By MATT MAURA
Bahamas Information Services
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA (BIS) April 25, 2017 – The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission’s decision to take a public health approach to the treatment of drug use and related disorders is one that should be embraced, Ms. Rochelle Basden, Deputy Director of Psychological Services at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre in The Bahamas, told delegates attending the Third Plenary Session of the 61st CICAD Regular Session Tuesday at OAS Headquarters in the US capital.
Ms. Basden said the public health dimension has gained momentum as nations strive for a more integrated and balanced approach to addressing the world drug problem.
“As an archipelagic nation stretching from Haiti in the South to Florida in the north, we share a strong history in drug interdiction with our ally, the United States of America, and Turks and Caicos through the OPBAT Initiative, but we recognize all too well the need for a shared responsibility in addressing the world drug problem,” Ms. Basden said.
“So we put our money where our mouth is and not only aim to curb supply and maintain law and order, but we also recognize the need to treat persons, families and communities affected by drug use with dignity and respect. We therefore embrace a Public Health approach to the treatment of drug use disorders and related problems.”
Presenting on the subject, “Drug Treatment Services in the Caribbean Region,” as part of the Plenary Session that focused on “The Provision of Drug Treatment Services: Challenges and Solutions,” Ms. Basden said public health officials in The Bahamas have for some time held the view that a public health approach should be used in the treatment of drug use and related disorders.
Ms. Basden said Bahamian public healthcare officials are using a multi-disciplinary team approach to ensure that comprehensive assessment, individualized treatment, planning and referral to an “appropriate level” are carried out.
She said in an effort to improve standards across service areas, Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, the Bahamas National Drug Council and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) partnered with Bahamian stakeholders (Government and Non-governmental Organizations – NGOs) to begin the drafting of Standards of Care for drug treatment centres in The Bahamas.
“Also, recent training programmes offered by PROCCER and the Colombo Plan received strong support from institutions/agencies and treatment professionals who participated in the training.”
(In 2006, the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), under the Secretary for Multidimensional Security (SMS) of the Organization of American States (OAS), designed a program to develop and strengthen member states’ institutions, policies, and strategies regarding treatment and rehabilitation for individuals with problems stemming from drug abuse and related violence.
The Training and Certification Programme for Drug Treatment, Rehabilitation and Violence Prevention, (PROCCER) created a Training and Certification Model that may be implemented throughout the hemisphere in response to the need for trained prevention and treatment service providers working in violence and drug addiction.)
Ms. Basden said in addition to the use of a multi-disciplinary team approach, screening, comprehensive assessment, individualized treatment planning, referral, follow up and social re-integration, interventions such as individual, group and family therapy, psycho-education, motivational interviewing and enhancement therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, occupational therapy and recreational therapy are used.
“These interventions form the bedrock of the treatment process at the Government facilities,” Ms. Basden said.
She said Inpatient drug treatment services are provided within the Government-operated Psychiatric Hospital (Sandilands), a medically managed facility, and include detoxification and withdrawal management; partial hospitalization programme; treatment for special populations experiencing co-occurring disorders, cognitive impairment, complications of medical and psychiatric conditions, impaired function in older adults; as well as medium-term, medically monitored, residential treatment in a modified (evolving) therapeutic community setting, and follow-up and aftercare services.
Ms. Basden said Bahamian magistrates have been “using their discretion” to offer drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration for a variety of drug-related offences, particularly in the cases of young, first time offenders.
“This process is facilitated through collaboration with the mental health system and Social Services,” she added.
Just last year during the 60th CICAD Regular Session held in Nassau, the Hon. Dr. Bernard J. Nottage, Minister of National Security, announced that The Bahamas was in the critical stages of establishing Drug Treatment Courts as alternatives to incarceration for drug-dependent offenders, providing treatment and rehabilitation.
Dr. Nottage said Bahamian officials had also embarked upon a series of other initiatives focused on at-risk youth, including the establishment of Community Youth Centres that will provide healthy alternative services and programmes.
“Participating youth will receive training in hospitality, self-esteem building, motivational and personal development. These centres will be spaces where youth can have positive interactions and hopefully be dissuaded from using illicit drugs, joining gangs, or engaging in conflict with the law.”
CICAD’s Executive Secretary, Ambassador Adam Namm, said Monday during the Opening Session of the 61st Regular Session of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) that he looked forward to working with hemispheric ministries of health, national drug commissions and civil society in the formulation of public policy related to drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in a shift in focus towards treating drug use and abuse as a public health issue.
“The new paradigm in drug control policy requires all of us to go beyond dialogues and achieve tangible results,” Ambassador Namm said. “This Executive Secretariat stands ready to assist our Member States as we face the challenge together through a holistic, balanced and multi-disciplinary approach, promoting dialogue and cooperation.
“Our Executive Secretariat will continue to train health professionals in order to improve the treatment offered to drug dependents, centering activities on the individual as the focus of interventions,” Ambassador Namm said.
PHOTO CAPTION
Rochelle Basden, Deputy Director, Psychological Services at Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre, following her presentation during the Third Plenary Session of the 61st Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) Tuesday, at the OAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Ms. Basden was one of four Bahamians who made presentations during the 61st Regular Session of CICAD of which The Bahamas sits as Chair. (BIS Photo/Matt Maura
