The Tribune

By MATT MAURA

Bahamas Information Services

WASHINGTON, DC – 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, said Rochelle Basden, deputy director of Psychological Services at Sandilands Rehabilitation as she addressed delegates attending the Third Plenary Session of the 61st CICAD Regular Session last month at the 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 recognise all too well the need for a shared responsibility in addressing the world drug problem,” she 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 recognise 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, individualised 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 Organisation (PAHO) partnered with Bahamian stakeholders (government and non-governmental organisations) 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 Organisation of American States (OAS), designed a programme 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, individualised 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,” said Ms Basden.

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 hospitalisation 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.