– rehab programme sees 91 clients in first year
Minister of Health Dr Leslie Ramsammy said yesterday that the majority of Guyanese were involved in substance abuse, particularly alcohol.
And he estimated that between eight and ten percent of the national health care budget is spent on accident victims and treating injuries caused by persons who are hooked on some form of substance.
Dr Leslie Ramsammy
While there is a growing number of persons who are addicted to crack cocaine and marijuana, Minister Ramsammy said that a larger number is hooked on alcohol and tobacco.
The minister was at the time addressing a small gathering at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) to mark the first anniversary of his ministry’s Drug Demand Reduction Programme (DDRP), which coincided with the observation of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking. The DDRP has several centres in Berbice with the main one being at the GPH.
According to DDRP Coordinator Nicole Piggott, since its commencement the programme has seen some 91 clients with 27 being mostly addicted to tobacco, 33 to alcohol, 24 to marijuana and 22 to cocaine. However, many of the persons required help for multiple substance abuse, with only 24 using just a single illicit substance. The clients were between the ages of 18 and 67 years and eight of them were women.
“Drug rehabilitation is a multi-faceted, long-term process which usually requires the help of drug addiction professionals to help addicts manage their lives. To make a successful recovery the person must learn new skills in order to deal with situations and problems that would arise…,” Piggott said. The centre at the GPH is an outpatient clinic and it provides services every Tuesday between the hours of 3 pm to 5 pm. Persons requiring long-term in-patient services can get this at the Salvation Army or the Phoenix Recovery Project. Piggott said that some individuals have abused drugs for such an extended period that they require round-the-clock in-patient treatment for a period of six months.
Social problems
In his address, Ramsammy said substance abuse has caused a number of social problems in Guyana, pointing out that the growing domestic violence issue cannot be addressed without looking at substance abuse which is also the root cause of many road accidents. And while there are many persons in prison for trafficking in or using illicit drugs, he said, many of them are also incarcerated for committing violent crimes while under the influence of some substance. Sexual abuse of women and children is also linked to alcoholism.
The minister called on society to look around and see the grave impact of substance abuse and he said he would continue to speak about the issue and be “in people’s faces on the issue.”
While addiction to crack cocaine and other illicit drugs is becoming a major problem in Guyana, Ramsammy said several prescription drugs are also being abused. He named Valium as the chief drug that is being abused as it is too easy for persons to access it.
“It is an important drug but unfortunately around the world it is being abused,” the minister said while calling on the country’s pharmacists and pharmacies to follow the regulations when issuing drugs to members of the public.
“Pharmacists have to be more vigilant when issuing drugs,” the minister said adding the pharmacists are important people in delivering healthcare but when they don’t follow the rules then they just create misery for the populace.
He said it is very difficult for his ministry alone to address the substance abuse problem and as such every citizen needs to play his/her part. Schools and religious organisations also have their part to play in the fight.
DDRP centres are also located at the New Amsterdam Hospital, Smythfield Drop-in-Centre, Mibi-curi Cottage Hospital and the Skeldon Hospital. The ministry also has television and radio programmes that are aired weekly as well as a school initiative that sees recovering addicts perform skits for school children.
‘Humane approach’
Meanwhile, two local organisations yesterday said that with the launch of the United Nations 2009 World Drug Report more than 40 international groups and experts worldwide have called on governments to adopt a humane approach to drug policy. A release said the call was signed by a total of 46 people from a range of professional backgrounds, including economists, drug policy/harm reduction experts, AIDS and human rights activists among others.
“We need a more humane approach to drug use based on harm reduction principles and respect for human rights to eliminate the negative impact of the drug trade in Guyana,” Donna Snagg, President of the Juncata Juvant Friendly Society, said in yesterday’s release. Her society provides assistance to persons who are deported. “Old methods are not working so we must turn to more evidence-based approaches,” she said.
The release said millions of non-violent drug users are languishing in prisons as a result of current drug policies rather than receiving treatment.
“Laws and policies that drive drug users underground, keep people away from life-saving HIV services and allows AIDS to spread, said Co-Chair of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD Joel Sampson. “These are very similar dynamics of exclusion which we see against sexual and gender minorities, and other marginalised groups,” he added.
A call was issued for governments to focus on reducing the harm of the drug trade and use.
What else is there for them to do? The government has turned a blind eye to the cocaine/marijuana trafficking so the people were given the go ahead to “light” up. Out of work, insufficient pay,corruption at all levels,free drug trade, moral decline and decay of the country – I ask again, what are the people to do?
how abt a proactive suggestion ! like EDUCATION !!!!!!!!!!!!
Those substances are not cheap. They would save on money and be in better health if they don’t use them.
Everybody is abusing something, drugs, sex, gambling you name it, but all in all this is a good initiative to highlight it and seek solutions.
I abuse books; I read too much. All over the house is books – in the kitchen, bathroom, toilet, bedroom, living rooms. But it’s better than having beer bottles and cigarette butts and ganja joints and drug utensils all over the place. Plus I’m healthier. And a wee bit smarter.
i abuse the computer, i have a serious blogging addiction.
NE NE YOU ARE IN THE USA , I PLACE THAT IS FAR BETTER THAN GUYANA YET PEOPLE THERE CONTINUE TO ABUSE SUBSTANCE. WOULD YOU BLAME THEIR GOVERNMENT TOO FOR THAT? YOU PEOPLE MAKE COMMENT’S FOR COMMENT SAKE. STOP DISGRACING GUYANESE AND SHOW THAT YOU WENT TO SCHOOL . SOMETIMES I AGREE THAT YOU HAVE TO BLAME THE GOVERNMENT BUT YOU PEOPLE TAKE IT TOO FAR SOMETIMES AND IT DOESNT MAKE SENSE JUST TO LET YOU KNOW.
Jack, this has nothing to do with living in the USA. Yes we have drug problems here as well but the incidence is higher in Guyana in relation to population. Your ignorance is showing why am I even responding to your drivel!!!
thanks for enlightening this donut NeNe, this is the PPP defacto stance that everything happening in Guyana is worse in the US. They conveniently ignore the people to problem ratiios similar to when you hear many ppp supporters repeat the jagdeo line crime happens in the US too you dont hear them complaining about it.
Total hogwash to detract from their failure to protect the citizens of this country. When Ravi Dev was lambasting them several years back for failing to protect people from the marrauding gangs of protesters they labelled the man a racist and of course their supporters embraced that then too.
I think that this minister is doing a good job with his limited resources and power in a government that is waiting until the boat is over the falls before it starts rowing(paddling or whatever).
Dr Ramsammy President Jagdeo need to change his team. He has a loseing team. that making guyana more shame.
I have always said that for Guyanese to be able to survive under the PPP and the PHENC you have to be on something.
Thanks for confirming this Ramsammy.
What’s with the Canadian Flag BS? Moving back to Toronto to get back into the action? Don’t do that to the Canadians. The americans deserve you. Hehehehehe Hahahahaha!
hahahhaha ahahahhaha hahahah, wow you are so funny you have to laugh at your own jokes…..the PPP deserve you.
Minister Dr.Ramsammy ,, long b4 u were appointed to be the “cornerstone” in the nations Health ,, the abuse of alcohol and drugs in GUYANA ,, was prevalent ,, but what’s more ,, is dat u Dr.Ramsammy would be shocked to know the strata of society that is abusing not only de booze ,, but de drugs too !!!!!!!!!
and i’m not just tlaking abt men ! ,,,, oh no ,, dem gat umman in GUYANA ,, who if u let dem ,, wud mek “tony montana” look like a baby wen dem staat fuh snart ! hoo is dem ,, dem know hoo dem iz ,, an if dem onli come haysuh an seh meh lie ,, nuff name gon call ! caz dem know i know dem ,, and dem know me !……
Hey breadren,T’ve just read that we are a bunch of drug abusers and in the comments I’ve notice the negatives,even an advert of an affordable drug abuse treatment, none of these will solve the problem.(Question) Why do we do these things? Its just to make us happy. happiness is just a feel good emotion,and we have full control over how we feel.if I ask you to feel depressed,you could pull that off could’nt Ya,all you need to do ,is think of some bad experiance,Mind managment is
the anser. as a man thinketh,so is he.God bless.
A form of chemical dependency. Disease of the brain or weakness of character? Those responsible for this dependency are however to be held accountable for their own actions.Only a weak individual would blame someone else for substance abuse by others.Only the weakness of the constitution would allow an individual to become a substance abuser. Those involved in substance abuse, instead of blaming others, or have others blame someone, should ask themselves.’I have to be honest to my own self.What world do I want? I know substance abuse leads to a loss of will power.Am I actually capable of choosing that non addictive world and being serious about it? Or, do I just abandon myself to the distractions and hope things are righted some way?’ Which it never does, but continues to go downhill.