ASSESSING EMERGING DRUG TRENDS

1
ASSESSING EMERGING DRUG TRENDS

• A study of drug use among male juvenile offenders
  in St. Lucia
• October 2004

2
JUSTIFICATION

• Study sought to examine the relationship
• between drug exposure and the
• institutionalization of juveniles at the Boys
• Training Centre.

3
OBJECTIVES

• Primary Objective
• Explore drug use its related problems amongst
  the population
• Secondary Objective
• Provision of institutional support through the
  provision of base-line data to inform
  intervention programmes

4
INSTITUTIONAL OVERVIEW

• The Boys Training Centre is state funded
  facility
• Lone residential facility for male juvenile
  delinquents
• Most residents have had conflicts with the law
  been exposed to the court system
• Houses a maximum of 30 wards

5
POPULATION UNDER STUDY

• Male juvenile offenders between 12 17 years
• Committed offences ranging from truancy to
  murder some placed for care protection
• Offenders tend to be socially dysfunctional
• Behavioural dysfunctions Conduct Disorder,
  Depression, ADHD
• Low levels of literacy limited formal education
• Exposure/involvement with illegal substances

6
METHODODLOGY

• Qualitative Data collection
• A Focus Group Interview with the wards
• In-depth Interviews
• Key Informant Interviews Treatment and
  Rehabilitation, Police and Justice, Prevention
  Services

7
DATA COLLECTED

• The specific focus of the study of the wards
• of the Centre was on their perception and
• attitudes to
• Drug use abuse
• Determine usefulness of the formal education
  system
• Role and function of the Community
• Social Structures Organizations
• Recommendations for drug demand reduction

8
FINDINGS

• A direct association was established between drug
  exposure and the placement of the boys at the
  Centre
• Drug of choice amongst the Boys as well as
  persons within their immediate social grouping
  was marijuana
• Marijuana was seen as a means of problem solving,
  a recreational activity and source of economic
  security
• Limited scope of choices contributed to drug
  involvement

9
FINDINGS (contd)

• Marijuana use seen as a rite of passage factor
  determining manhood
• Existence of a social environment
  tolerant/accepting of use
• Myths misconceptions endorsing marijuana usage
• Limited scope of intervention efforts

10
RECOMMENDATIONS

• Holistic Approach to Drug Education Prevention
  problem management, public health awareness,
  development of personal civic responsibility,
  etc.
• Collaboration Networking harness the
  professional capacity of a range of professionals
  Creation of an enabling environment
• Programme Relevance sensitivity to the youth
  variable
• Coordinated Training for persons engaged in the
  range of areas addressing drug use/abuse

11

• WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AND
  WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS YOU MAY
  HAVE.