Feb. is Drug Awareness Month in Dominica

Acting Inspector of the Durg Squad Unit Addresses the Press Conference as Director of Drug Abuse Prevention Unit Jacinta Bannis looks on.

photo source
At a press conference today, observing Drug Awareness Month, officials expressed concern with the increasing number of drug related offenses in Dominica. Acting Inspector of the Drug Squad Unit, Allan Smith expressed concerns about drugs such as cocaine being trafficked from Venezuela and St Lucia to Dominica, and marijuana from St. Vincent. In response the drug squad has increased random searches and patrols.

According to Jacinta Bannis, Director of the Drug Abuse Prevention Unit, the "culture of silence" needs to be broken. The public needs to play a part in eroding the drug culture. She is aware that young persons take part in the drug trade as it can be financially lucrative. Ms Bannis states that young women are now "joining the ranks" with their male counterparts. Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are increasing in local High Schols.

Now, I myself I am definitely am alarmed at the number of kids I see smoking and drinking at fetes. My first question is what are they doing there in the first place? Parents need to be held accountalble to some degree for their childrens actions. As for public participation, that is kind of a catch 22. Because persons high in society, ones called "respectable" or "bourgeois" or "businessmen" are the ones who perpetuate and profit from the drug trade. The kids who sell the dope are the small fish who get caught in the net. Not that I am making excuses for them or anything, but can we be honest about the whole situation. I mean if I am a young person in society and I see a politician liming with a known drug dealer, what incentive is there for me to report him or not talk to him , when those that should set the example for me are doing just the opposite.

Kudos to the Drug Prevention Unit. They know the hardships that many young persons in Dominica go through as far as drug abuse, withdrawal, the correlation of poverty and poor family structure to drug trade and abuse. They reach out to several communities, prisons and schools to educate residents about the dangers of drug abuse. So even though they seemingly face an uphill battle or as some may say a never ending cycle, they still persevere. Please support their efforts through Drug Awareness Month and the rest of 2009 and beyond!!!!