Esther BestManager

National Drug CouncilTrinidad and Tobago

Regional Drug Demand Reduction Strategy◦ Surveillance, Research and Development◦ Policy Development and Advocacy◦ Prevention and Education◦ Treatment and Rehabilitation◦ Programme Management and Coordination ( Includes M&E)

CARICOM – Regional Standards of Care – developed in collaboration with CICAD

Considerable work undertaken with the 10th European Development Fund

All countries have prevention activities ◦ Some are more advanced than others◦ Comprehensive prevention – Including all target groups◦ Others specialise in target groups – Primarily in school youth

Intervention must start earlier

Trinidad and Tobago, and Grenada have pre-school interventions

All Regional Member States have some form of Treatment services◦ Hospitals◦ Health Centres◦ Out patient◦ Residential◦ Support Services – Alcoholics Anonymous; Narcotics Anonymous

Range from specialised treatment services to admission in hospital settings

Treatment modalities include medical, bio-psychosocial model, and religious convention

Services offered by both Government and Civil Society There are agencies which request fees while others do not

Traditional treatment opportunities mainly for males

Regionally there was 1 treatment facility for females until 2009◦ Located in South Trinidad

There are now 3 treatment facilities for females◦ Two in Trinidad and Tobago ◦ One in Guyana

Usually includes drug addiction co-occurring with mental health issues or HIV/AIDS

Most facilities offer treatment for either one area or the other This is an area that needs to be addressed as there are

increased incidents of mental health issues The regional discussion on Marijuana also requires that this issue

be seriously considered

There are youth clinics in some countries – More mental health than drug treatment

Jamaica, and the Bahamas have specific treatment interventions for young people

Need for the development of comprehensive training and services in this area

The cultural acceptance of marijuana use across the region is significant

This is evident from the levels of use noted in successive secondary school surveys

Arrests continue to be high

Recognition that there is a need to increase treatment opportunities

Increasing policies and programmes which recognize addiction as a chronic relapsing disease

Critical component in the public health approach

Harm reduction – Not synonymous with legalization

Successful interventions initiated with the help of DOH International and the EDF◦ Educating treatment providers and prevention specialist on what is

harm reduction and implementing programmes in this area◦ Establishment of street based interventions in many countries in the

region

Treatment often the domain of Civil Society

Few staff are trained in the area◦ Deliver services because of the recognition of the need◦ Committed to the clients◦ Want to help improve lives

OAS / CICAD is building the capacity of treatment providers through the Caribbean component of the Training and Certification Programme for Drug and Violence Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation - PROCCER

Training of Treatment Providers currently being undertaken in 6 countries in either Prevention or Treatment

All Member States have been trained in both areas

Training to be delivered throughout the region in Treatment and Rehabilitation

Resulting in strengthened capacity of providers - Improved services to clients

First introduced to the concept in 2005

An opportunity to observe the Operation of these courts in Miami in 2009

Launch of the Drug treatment Court in the Americas Programme by CICAD in 2010

Interest and support from:◦ CARICOM Secretariat – Collaborated with CICAD to host the first Training

opportunity in 2011◦ Member states – Bahamas, Barbados, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago

Solution focused approach to dealing with- drug addicts- criminal behavior driven by drug addiction

Justice in collaboration with treatment will more effectively address drug abuse by criminal offenders

Designed to supervise cases of drug dependent offenders who agree to participate in treatment for their substance abuse

Offenders must take responsibility for their addiction and agree to address same

The DTC combines traditional justice processes with treatment options

The Court and Treatment Services◦ Collaboration of both systems strengthens intervention◦ Immediate treatment and ongoing judicial supervision

Non Adversarial approach to decisions◦ A team approach is necessary to address the needs of the

participants – Team is usually – Magistrate, Defence Attorney, Prosecution, Probation, Police Officer, Treatment Provider

◦ Decisions reached by consensus

Early identification of eligible offenders◦ Eligibility based on issues related to public safety and appropriateness

for treatment – usually focused on non-violent offenders

Treatment Services-Treatment should include a range of services

-Community resources should be accessed Urine Testing -This is critical as a participant must have negatives tests to graduate

6.Incentives and Sanctions - a range of graduated incentives and sanctions are employed - sanctions should be swift and certain but flexible if the

circumstances require.

Ongoing Judicial Supervision - judicial oversight is essential - consistent interaction with each DTC

participant is critical

- pre court discussions with the judicial officer and the team -Each DTC team member is Vital

- the judicial officer is the ultimate decision maker Jurisdiction is not surrendered

Monitoring and Evaluation

Jamaica’s DTC pilot programme in existence for over 12 years Training undertaken provided by Justice Kofi Barnes and his team from

Canada to the following Member States between 2011 and 2014:◦ The Bahamas◦ Barbados◦ Belize ◦ Grenada◦ Jamaica◦ Suriname◦ Trinidad and Tobago

Opportunities to view DTC’s in operation in Canada and the United States

Belize - ◦ MOU to be signed

The Bahamas – ◦ CICAD awaits finalization of the MOU

Barbados – ◦ Signed their MOU◦ DTC launched February 11th 2014

Jamaica – ◦ Currently has 2 courts – ◦ An additional 3 to be opened by 2015

Trinidad and Tobago - ◦ Launched Pilot Court in San Fernando on 11th September 2012◦ Currently 13 participants – 8 applications pending with the DPP◦ Will start a second court in Tunapuna in May 2014◦ Developed a draft policy document for the implementation of a Juvenile

DTC

Grenada and Suriname –Still to take action

St. Kitts and Nevis has expressed interest in the programme

Training in Monitoring and Evaluation – July 2014

Workshop on implementing Juvenile Drug Treatment Courts – July 2014

Development of a Training Manual for juvenile treatment providers

Training for juvenile treatment providers

Launch of a Juvenile DTC in Trinidad and Tobago

OAS / CICAD – Ambassadors Adam Blackwell, James Mack, and Paul Simons; Antonio, Joseph, Nischa, Dr. Ryad Insanally and Mr. Francis McBarnette

CARICOM Secretariat - Mrs. Beverly Reynolds

Canadian Team - Justice Barnes

Juvenile DTC Judge - Justice Orlando Prescott

Chief Justices of - Barbados – Mr. Justice Marston Gibson Belize – Mr. Justice Kenneth Benjamin Jamaica – Madame Justice Zaila Mccalla Trinidad and Tobago – Mr. Justice Ivor Archie

Training Teams - Canada, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago