The National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) in 2021 impacted 145,828 adults through its public education prevention initiatives and 4,000 children across 73 institutions, as a part of the in-school prevention programme.

A total of 935 clients accessed the primary treatment (drug counselling) programme, 69.0 per cent of whom were new clients.

The information is contained in the 2021 edition of the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s Economic and Social Survey Jamaica (ESSJ). The survey outlined that the strategic priorities and programmes of the NCDA are informed by national drug surveys and the priority programmes of the Ministry of Health and Wellness to increase universal access to health, improve the quality of care, and to provide compassionate care.

“The pandemic continued to disrupt the regular activities of the Council, therefore virtual delivery was most times utilised through social media platforms. Telephone counselling continued as an option for drug treatment, and there was an expansion of personnel available to conduct screening and brief interventions through the training of school and public health care providers in screening, brief Intervention and referral to treatment for problematic drug users,” the survey said.

It said other programmes included the: “Tek It To Dem programme”, which targets the homeless population who may be substance abusers, and offers HIV and drug prevention services. For the period under review, 924 persons were reached and 884 persons were tested for HIV and syphilis.

Work continued through the Drug Treatment Court Programme, which is a diversion programme aimed at rehabilitating persons who have committed minor offences because of their drug use. There are currently five adult courts across the island where counselling is offered. A total of 66 clients were seen in 1,179 sessions and 664 drug tests were conducted.

Meanwhile, under the Child Diversion Programme the NCDA offers drug counselling to children referred through the Ministry of Justice. The programme offers services that enhance the life skills of children who have come in conflict with the law and diverts them away from the criminal justice system through rehabilitative interventions.

A total of 92 children were referred for treatment and 77.0 per cent was reached. The NCDA conducted 1,044 sessions with 109 clients (71 new and 38 repeat) and administered 194 drug tests over the period. A study that was conducted on the impact of the pandemic on secondary school students revealed that substance abuse increased in 2021. Based on findings presented in the study, the NCDA recommended increasing adolescent mental health screening and services; providing opportunities for small-group engagement for self-expression; providing more support for virtual engagement; and increasing parental participation and supervision to assist students.