The sub-regional bloc’s top diplomat in Banjul made the disclosure at the closing ceremony of a Training of Mental healthcare professional on the Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC) of Drug Advisory Program Module 5 credentialing and certification examination in The Gambia, held at NaNA conference hall in Kanifing.
The ECOWAS Permanent Representative indicated that the aim of that training was to strengthen participants’ knowledge of the concepts of admission, screening and assessment as treatment for substance use disorders, and increase their skills on the use of psychological substance use screening and assessment tools using the assist tool and the addiction severity index (ASI).
The diplomat told the participants that, she was particularly excited to see all of them gathered there for that training on Module 5, which is the last of the series they needed to complete before their certification and credentialing examination.
Madam Gayflor lamented that illicit drug trafficking, drug abuse and related organised crimes continue to be a major concern in West Africa, and that the vulnerability of the region is well documented.
She reasoned that because of porous borders, social conditions and weak capacity in West Africa, the trafficking of illicit drugs and related crimes continue to thrive. As direct consequences, drug trafficking promotes corruption which undermines good governance, stability and economic development the region, she told her audience.
Mrs. Gayflor decried that drug use and illicit drug trafficking take a terrible toll on families, educational performance and social cohesion thereby exacerbating the pressure on already fragile national health, economic and security systems.
Mr. Assan Tangara, Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) at the Ministry of interior, noted that the inadequacy of trained professionals in the treatment of SUD, coupled with the lack of specialized drug treatment facilities, have been an obstacle for countries across the region in the area of demand reduction with The Gambia not being an exception. He lamented that as individuals succumb to addiction, they lose their ability to free will, thus becoming slaves to their desires, which in turn, affect various aspect of their lives.
DPS Tangara said they hope the relationship with the ECOWAS Commission would continue to higher heights and their request for support in establishing a specialized drug treatment facility would be given due consideration.
He cautioned that without access to proper care, treatment and psycho–social support services, the end result is mostly uncontrollable drug use (addiction), Drug Induced Psychosis (DIP) and in some cases death.
Tangara vowed that the Interior Ministry would ensure that DLEAG as the lead government institution mandated by law to regulate the use and possession of controlled drugs, prohibited drugs, precursors and connected matters, is capacitated and supported on the supply suppression and demand reduction fronts to fulfil its mandate.
“We are ready and willing to collaborate with local and international partners in all fronts to combat Drug Abuse, Illicit Drug Trafficking and related transnational organised crime”, the Interior Ministry official added.
Tangara further stated that drug abuse, illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organised crimes continue to threaten global peace and stability. He described it as a complex challenge that endangers the health and socio-economic conditions of individuals and societies.
Since law enforcement officers cannot be everywhere and at every time, Tangara wants people to be vigilant, and report suspected criminal activities to the authorities concerned.
