Drug Demand Reduction initiatives

Two Regional Workshops to build the capacity of more than 45 participants working with youth and adolescents from the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) of ACP States  with problematic drug use, will be held on 4 -9 February, in Trinidad and Tobago.

The CARICOM Secretariat is collaborating with the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organisation of American States and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, Ministry of National Security National Drug Council on in this event.

The workshops are facilitated with the support of the European Union/ CARIFORUM Crime and Security Programme, under the Tenth EDF. The Crime and Security Programme has three components: drug demand and supply reduction; crime and violence prevention and social development; and capacity building of law enforcement and security agencies and enhanced cooperation with Third States. The Drug Demand Reduction component of this programme provides the opportunity to build capacity of service providers, strengthen institutional systems and networks to effectively reduce the demand for illicit drug and alcohol.

 These workshops are in response to gaps identified under the Ninth EDF, which indicated that treatment and rehabilitation programmes and services, particularly for adolescents and youth  were needed.  As such, the objective of the workshop is to strengthen the capabilities of persons working with adolescents and youth to understand and appropriately respond to those who are using or misusing substances.

Regional Master Trainers will instruct participants from modules developed by CICAD/OAS in the areas of Adolescent Development; Screening and Assessment; Trauma and Trauma informed Care; Adolescents in Conflict with the Law; Adolescent Drug Treatment and Family Interventions.

The meeting opens with a brief ceremony, to which the media is invited, at 0:900 hrs, at the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Training Academy, in Port-of Spain. Remarks will be given by representatives of the CARICOM Secretariat, European Union, Organisation of American States and the Ministry of National Security, Government of Trinidad and Tobago.