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BACKGROUNDAbuse of licit & illicit substances is a global problem that is influenced by a wide variety of factors that span social, economic, political and psychosocial arenas. The multiplicity of factors associated with drug abuse and their inter-relatedness makes the problem a complex one. The escalation of drug abuse over the last three to four decades, particularly among the adolescents and young people, has created major public health and socioeconomic problems and challenges. The development and delivery of effective and appropriate interventions in countries experiencing drug abuse problems are very much dependent on an understanding of patterns of drug use and their relationships to health and social problems. A Drug Abuse Epidemiological and Surveillance System Project (DAESSP) was approved in late 1999 under the 8th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme (CRIP). The Financing Agreement for the two-year project, which was signed by the Secretariat of the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) and the European Commission (EC) in January 2000, allocated funds from the EDF to the project. OBJECTIVESThe overall objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity of CARIFORUM governments, technical entities and regional agencies to respond to changing drug abuse patterns and trends and contribute to the abatement of drug abuse in the region. The specific purpose of the project is to establish a sound database and "early warning" surveillance system to assist national and regional policy makers in demand reduction. As such a regional surveillance network — Caribbean Drug Information Network (CARIDIN) has been established with a series of sustainable activities to inform this network. THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTERSThe Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC/PAHO/WHO) is the implementing agency for the project. CAREC is the health monitoring and disease prevention organisation for the Caribbean and the Project Executing Unit (PEU) for the DAESSP is based in the Non-Communicable Disease & Injury Program. COLLABORATING AGENCIESThe United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), of the Organisation of American States (OAS), will provide technical assistance on this project. The UNDCP, within its Global Assessment Programme (GAP), has been assisting countries in the region to conduct studies aimed at improving the understanding of the patterns and causes of drug abuse. CICAD has developed a system, the Inter-American Uniform Drug Use Data System (SIDUC), to improve the collection of comparable statistical information on the consumption of psychoactive substances within the region.
PROJECT COMPONENTSTraining for network capacity building is a key strategy for ensuring that drug abuse surveillance activities are sustained in the region. This would be achieved through the training of a cadre of persons in each country to manage and operate SIDUC and undertake national surveys using approved methods. Research and Development focuses on the collection and dissemination of data generated through surveillance and data gathering mechanisms. This will be achieved through a series of activities aimed at consolidating the implementation of SIDUC in each country as well as conducting of focussed assessments among high-risk groups. Programme Management and Coordination addresses activities necessary to ensure the smooth and efficient implementation of the project and establish the foundation for sustainability of the project. PROJECT ACTIVITIESThe principal activities to be carried out, in all beneficiary countries, surround network capacity building, the implementation of school surveys and conducting of focussed assessments in high-risk groups. Other activities will include data collection from emergency rooms, treatment centres & prisons. National Coordinating Units will be identified in each of the 15 beneficiary countries to carry out the project activities. These units will ideally be within existing National Drug Councils. Regional and National Coordinators will be designated by their respective governments. The Regional Coordinator will be the country representative to a Regional Steering Committee that will advise on policy and monitor the overall project. The National Coordinator has the main responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the project activities at the country level and coordinating the in-country implementation team that comprise the coordinating unit. This surveillance system will ultimately strengthen CARIFORUM government’s technical entities and regional agencies to respond better to the changing drug abuse patterns among the people of the Caribbean. REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SCOPE OF PROJECTThis project has a major role in the demand reduction efforts of the Caribbean and as such will contribute findings on the regional perspective to the wider global community. CARIDIN will also contribute to international data collection systems such as the OAS/CICAD Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) and the UNDCP Annual Reports Questionnaire (ARQ). This should ultimately lead to a coordinated and collaborative effort with all Regional and International agencies involved in drug abuse control programmes.
Key: Project Executing Unit (PEU), Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC), United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), European Commission Drugs Projects Coordinating Office For the Caribbean (ECDCO), European Monitoring Centre for Drug and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)
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Caribbean Epidemiology Centre Page last modified 31 October, 2001 |
