{"id":7330,"date":"2010-04-06T13:46:23","date_gmt":"2010-04-06T19:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/?p=7330"},"modified":"2010-04-06T16:42:52","modified_gmt":"2010-04-06T22:42:52","slug":"drug-addiction-is-a-disease-official","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/news\/health\/drug-addiction-is-a-disease-official\/","title":{"rendered":"Drug addiction is a disease – official"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Director of the National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit Jacinta Bannis has warned prisoners that illegal drug addiction is not only a criminal activity, but should also be viewed as a disease.<\/p>\n

According to a press release, the Unit organized 12 weeks of interactive drug education sessions, where 20 male inmates at the Dominica State Prison participated.<\/p>\n

At the closing ceremony held last Wednesday Bannis noted that the programme was important not only to the State Prison, but also to the Drug Prevention Unit.<\/p>\n

She recognized there is a bond formed between the participants and the staff of the unit through such programmes. Upon release a number of participants visit the Unit for various reasons, mainly for help towards a smooth reinsertion into the society.<\/p>\n

The participants were also asked to use their time wisely, and decide upon their next step in making that transition to change.<\/p>\n

Drug Abuse Prevention Officer Malcolm St. Rose, who made remarks at the function pointed out the significance his Unit in the rehabilitation process of the inmates.<\/p>\n

He viewed such programmes as being one of the first steps towards recovery.<\/p>\n

The press release stated that two inmates testified to the positive impact of the programmes on their lives.\u00a0 One participant testified that the programme has brought about a dramatic way of thinking for him.\u00a0 According to the Stockfarm inmate his whole output on drug use and abuse has changed.<\/p>\n

He has recognized the effect of drug use on persons, would not like to end up into a spiral of self destruction.
\n“When we started the programme we argued vigorously with the facilitators that marijuana was not a drug, knowing what I know now about drugs meaning that they are mind altering substances, I can say boldly now that marijuana is a drug,\u201d that prisoner said.<\/p>\n

Meantime, Prison Officer responsible for social programmes Franklyn Thomas\u00a0 recommended the Drug Abuse Prevention Unit conducts counselling for inmates, especially those who are nearing the completion of their jail term. He also suggested that the Prison Drug Education Programme continues outside the confines of the prison.<\/p>\n

The Unit presented two basketballs and toiletries to the inmates for their use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Director of the National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit Jacinta Bannis has warned prisoners that illegal drug addiction is not only a criminal activity, but should also be viewed as a disease. According to a press release, the Unit organized 12…","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":7333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[19,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime-court-law","category-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDrug addiction is a disease - official - Dominica News Online<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/news\/health\/drug-addiction-is-a-disease-official\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Drug addiction is a disease - official - Dominica News Online\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Director of the National Drug Abuse Prevention Unit Jacinta Bannis has warned prisoners that illegal drug addiction is not only a criminal activity, but should also be viewed as a disease. 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