The National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit (NDAPU) has over the past two years created a Drug Information Network (DIN). The unit has arranged such a committee to assist in the creation of a drug statistics report. The report is expected to provide useful data for decision making.
Government agencies and other institutions namely, the Dominica Police Force, Drug Squad and Criminal Investigations Department, the Welfare Division, Legal and Foreign Affairs and the Financial Intelligence Unit among others are all part of the Drug Information Network.
Jacinta Bannis, Coordinator of the National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit, said that new members are being identified to form part of the network.
“There are a number of agencies that have statistics. We get information even from the hospitals. So we have compiled a report on alcohol and drug related statistics. We are going to look at the draft document and then put together a final document which we can present to the Ministry. It will be a useful information booklet or document for persons who want to know the number of persons that APU or hospital that were treated for substance abuse, number of persons that the Welfare department is looking at, number of persons in the prison who have problems with substance abuse. Therefore, we are looking at putting that document together as this will be very useful for us and even international agencies that want such information,” she said.
The Drug Information Network was scheduled to meet for a half day workshop on Thursday April 21. The workshop sought to finalize a draft report on “Dominica’s alcohol and other drug information.”
What about the rehab run by Bonti Liverpool of Grand Bay. As I understand it no other agency in Dominica does the kind of work he is doing. He takes in drug addicts in his place and he rehabilitates them. Is he part of the Drug Information Network? Does the Government give him any assistance? What is the name of his organization? Where is that rehab situated? Could DNO investigate and give us the answer to those questions and also a contact number for Mr. Liverpool?
Wisdon to Know is the suppoert group run by Mr, Bontil Liverpool. This support group is part of the network. The National Drug Abuse Prevention unijt work with WTK in the area of prevention. Last year Mr.Liverpool attended a workshop in Tobago as a nominee to the NDAPU.
We also need a comprehensive pharmacology formulary for Dominica .everyone in the medical medical field should have that available