ROUGHLY 190,000 Jamaicans, who are abusers of, or addicted to legal and illicit drugs, are in need of professional help to either drop the habit or bring it under control according to Michael Tucker, executive director of the National Drug Abuse Council.
He made the revelation yesterday at the Half-Way Tree Road head offices of Sandals/Appliance Traders Limited.
The occasion was a presentation ceremony, where Sandals Resort International handed over a cheque worth $400,000 to the National Drug Abuse Council.
The funds were raised from the recently concluded Bike Ride Against Drug Abuse (BRADA) 2006, which was coorganised by the Jamaica Cycling Federation.
"Statistics have shown that approximately 190,000 Jamaicans need professional help ... to stop the abuse and return to a normal lifestyle," Mr. Tucker emphasised.
Mr. Tucker also disclosed that 93,000 of the total figure are abusers of alcohol. He explained that it was no surprise that alcohol was leading the pack of substances being abused locally because of its availability, glamorisation and association with having a good time.
The survey, which was published in 2002 and was carried out among an age cohort of 12-55 years, showed that 42,000 persons between the ages of 15 and 24 "have a problem with alcohol and or other drugs".
FAR-REACHING EFFECTS
Mr. Tucker warned that the far-reaching effects of legal drugs such as alcohol and cigarette should not be undermined.
While admitting that the treatment and rehabilitation for drug abusers is a "significant challenge" facing the nation, Mr. Tucker said that curative strategies were being implemented. "In response to that the National Drug Abuse Council will be doing some ongoing training with our street staff to actually deliver primary treatment at the community level," he explained.
Mr. Tucker said that in many instances, drug abuse was the root cause for many social ills that plague the society. "There are drug problems that cause hostility, irresponsible sexual behaviour, violent crime and abuse particularly to wives, spouses and children."
