Ellen Campbell Grizzle, director of Information and Research at the NCDA. - FILE
THE NATIONAL Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA), under the auspices of CARICOM, is to host a joint symposium to heighten the awareness of drug abuse.
The summit will take place November 28 to 30 at the Holiday Inn hotel in Montego Bay, and is expected to identify indigenous responses to the new and ever evolving nature of the drug problem. Twenty-three countries have been invited to attend.
Researchers will share best practices in the provision of services to women, adolescents, persons living with HIV/AIDS and the mentally ill. Papers will also be presented on the penal system, Jamaica's drug court initiative and the link between drug abuse, violence and narco-trafficking.
"An important aspect of the meeting is the identification of skills needed to ramp up the capacity of National Drug Councils to complete the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM)," said Ellen Campbell Grizzle, director of Information and Research at the NCDA.
According to her, the document attached to the MEM process is an important marker of progress in the region's fight against the demand and supply of illegal drugs.
"MEM is a tool through which the anti-drug efforts of the 34 members of the Organisation of American States (OAS) is measured, and reflects a common commitment to confront and overcome the (drug) problem".
Another important outcome of the meeting will be the formation of a Technical Advisory Committee to spearhead regional demand reduction strategies and programmes.
