Drug addiction: it's probably the most widespread social and health problem in Belize affecting communists small and large, remote and urban, Mestizo, Mayan, Creole and Garifuna. But what is anyone doing about it? Well, there are only very few treatment and rehabilitation programs available and public health care centres do not offer detox services to addicts. Sure enough, it's the most pressing social and health problem and now the Ministry of Health has commissioned a new Drug Advisory Council to come up with some answers. After a long period of dormancy, 20 new commissioners from across the country were sworn in this afternoon. Minister of Health Vildo Marin says the appointment of a new commission is urgent because communities are losing the battle against drug abuse.
Vildo Marin, Minister of Health
"From the recent surveys that was done on the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs it was found out that we are losing the war against drugs. So it is important to get the community more involved. We need business people, we need teachers, we need police officers, we need legal people, we need everybody to come together, people from the NGOs to come together and to help to rid our communities from this scourge."
"They have many missions. Basically it is advisory in nature so they advise me as the Minister of Health, and the government of course, if we need to change laws, if we need to change our policy. They also help to raise funds, for example I am tasking them with a major responsibility, one of creating a drug rehabilitation center for the country."
Alfonso Noble,
How do you keep them interested in this kind of work?
Ornel Brooks, Executive Director, NDACC
"Well leadership, that is where it all stems from. With strong leadership, focus, then I think we will keep them committed. But leadership is pertinent."
The twenty commissioners will support the work of NDACC in school drug prevention, public education, community empowerment, legal reform, research and information as well as treatment and rehabilitation. In the year 2000, the last Drug Council developed a national master plan which, we presume, is sitting on some dusty and faraway shelf in a government backroom.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
