In the Caribbean Community, care, treatment and rehabilitation of persons addicted to drugs are administered through public, private and Non Governmental organizations. In recent times and in response to unmet needs, a number of treatment facilities have been established. Many of these facilities are not guided by standards related to facilities, services and personnel. Additionally, the administration of these services is very often challenged by inadequate human resources, insufficiently trained personnel and lack of funds to establish and maintain structures and programmes.
drug abuse
I am very grateful to the University of Technology, The University of the West Indies and the National Drug Council of Jamaica and the Diabetes Association of Jamaica for inviting me to speak at this prestigious Conference and the University Diabetes Outreach Programme (UNOPS) for bestowing on me this honour of the Sir Phillip Sherlock Award.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) June 26 is International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, and CARICOM Member States are embarking on a series of activities to mark the day.
The CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with the Directors of National Councils on Drug Abuse is leading the way with the development of activities to sensitise the public - specifically women - about the negative ripple effects of drug trafficking.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Yet another effort by the CARICOM Secretariat to address the problem of substance abuse has been lauded as exceptional, by an international organization.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Representative of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Saint Lucia, Ms Anne Marie Blackman has called for the Region to plough more resources in the development of what she calls evidence-based policies on drugs.
Approximately ten days ago (17th April 2009) on the occasion of the Inaugural Ceremony of the Fifth Summit of the Americas which was convened in Port- of- Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the Honourable Dean O. Barrow, Prime Minister of Belize and Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) made reference to the “bete noir” or literally the black beast that continues to challenge the Region. This particular beast was identified as the ‘ever increasing crime’ ‘fuelled’ in part by ‘trafficking in illicit drugs and arms.’
The Caribbean Community Secretariat is seeking to empower CARICOM Member States to tackle more effectively the worsening illicit drug problem within the Caribbean through the development and subsequent implementation of National Anti Drug Strategies and Plans.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Regional Meeting on Standards of Care for Treatment and Rehabilitation Facilities for Substance Abusers rolled out an ambitious timeline for the completion of its first handbook that will establish the standards for practitioners in drug treatment and care facilities in the Region.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) CARICOM Secretariat’s Programme Manager Sustainable Development, Ms Beverely Reynolds has made an impassioned plea for the Caribbean Countries and the European Union to strengthen the partnership in waging the war against the use of illicit drugs in the Caribbean Region, declaring that the Region’s sustainable development was seriously threatened by this social malady.
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States are reporting progress in their efforts to reduce the demand for illicit drugs in the Region.
Based on the ten Country reports presented yesterday (3 March) at the regional training workshop on Standards of Care for Treatment and Rehabilitation Facilities for Substance Abusers, in Jamaica, several countries have varying types of care and treatment methods for drug and alcoholic dependents.