1. Meeting of the National Drug Observatories in the Caribbean DRUG CONSUMPTION SITUATION IN THE CARIBBEAN Pernell Clarke Coordinator of Information and Research for the Caribbean OID/CICAD Barbados, June 14 – 16, 2005

2. Summary The Caribbean and Drugs Supply Statistics Consumption Statistics (School Surveys) Emerging Trends Discussion

3. The Caribbean and Drugs

4. Supply Statistics The region continues to be an important trans-shipment area because of geography Highest volume: Marijuana The supply of cocaine from South American producers is declining Designer drugs amphetamines, ecstasy etc are increasingly being trafficked

5. Supply Statistics Sources include: –Police Depts. –Prosecutors –Customs –Coast Guard –National Drug Observatories Data may include: –Production of illicit crops (land area under cultivation) –Drug Seizures (quantities in lbs, kgs.) –Seizures of chemical precursors (types and quantities) –Labs Discovered –Persons arrested for drug crimes

6. The Caribbean – Cannabis Seizures

7. The Caribbean – Cocaine Seizures

8. The Caribbean – Persons Arrested

9. Consumption Statistics General Population Surveys School Surveys Treatment Centres Emergency Rooms Prisoners Street Children Key Informants

10. Current world situation OID-CICAD / OAS Drug Use Estimates. Last year prevalences, 2001-2003 All drugs CannabisAmpheta- mines EcstasyCocaineOpiates Millions of persons 185146.229.68.313.315.2 % of population 3.0%2.3%0.5%0.1%0.2% % of pop. 15-64 yrs. 4.7%3.7%0.7%0.2%0.3%0.4% Source: UNODC 2004 Report

11. Prevalence - Cigarettes

12. Current Prevalence by Gender - Cigarettes

13. Prevalence - Alcohol

14. Current Prevalence by Gender - Alcohol

15. Prevalence - Marijuana

16. Current Prevalence By Gender - Marijuana

17. Age of First Use - Cigarettes

18. Age of First Use - Alcohol

19. Age of First Use - Marijuana

20. Perception of Harm From Smoking Cigarettes

21. Perception of Harm From Frequently Drinking Alcohol

22. Perception of Harm From Frequently Smoking Marijuana

23. Perception of Harm From Sometimes Smoking Marijuana

24. Perception of Harm From Sometimes Taking Cocaine

25. Other Variables Frequency of use Mode of Use Demographic Family background, living conditions, social status KAPB Deviance (besides drug use), school performance, etc

26. Trend Data….the next frontier Assessing changes in drug use (types of drugs, direction of change, rate of change) Assessing the changes in Users (age of first use, frequency of use, reasons for use, characteristics of users) Determining risk factors (Are they the same? Are there new ones? Is the order of importance changing?) Evaluation (Impact of interventions, treatment, supply reduction etc)* * Must be carefully done. The use of a control group will usually present a better scientific evaluation, but this is not always feasible.

27. USA School Survey: Last year Prevalences of any drug by grade

28. USA-Chile School Surveys: Last year Prevalences of cannabis

29. Recap Supply: Marijuana, cocaine, designer drugs Supply statistics are available from many sources. Need to screen for quality and consistency Demand: Alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy?? Consumption surveys (secondary schools) need to be done at least every two years if we are to scientifically identify trends.

30. The End