National Drug Observatory launched

The three sectors with the highest amount of substance abuse among workers are the transport, manufacturing and construction industries. This is the finding of the National Drug Information System. Yesterday, the National Drug Council of Trinidad and Tobago launched the National Drug Observatory of Trinidad and Tobago (NDOTT) at the Hilton Trinidad. Trinidad and Tobago is the first and only Organisation of American States (OAS) country to have a National Drug Observatory. The NDOTT will provide information on the anti-drug initiative, including national, regional and international trends and research in drug use, production and trafficking. it  also seeks to educate the general public on government’s policies, projects and initiatives, aimed at combatting the problem of illicit drugs in Trinidad and Tobago.

Minister of State in the Ministries of National Security and Trade and Industry, Fitzgerald Hinds, who delivered the feature address at the launch noted that the initiative by the National Drug Council is in keeping with Government’s attack on crime from all angles. He revealed that available statistical data demonstrated that the imprisonment of a substantial number of inmates had to do either with a direct drug-related charge or had an indirect link. More revealing, he said, was that there was a predominance of young men, between ages 25 to 29, who comprise the majority of such inmates and the age cohort is constantly falling. Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Oswyn Allard was presented with a cheque valued at $110,000 for the police service to purchase a vital piece of equipment to be used in the fight against drugs.