PSYCHIATRIST REVEALS PEOPLE TURNING UP FOR TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION TO POWERFUL DRUG
By Anesta Henry
Methamphetamine, the deadly, white, odourless drug commonly known as “meth” is here in Barbados and a psychiatrist has suggested that some Barbadians may already be addicted to it.
Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams announced during a press briefing on Friday that he was seriously concerned with the confirmation from the Government Forensic Science Centre of the presence here of the highly-addictive stimulant that affects the body’s central nervous system.
Authorities have reported intercepting a quantity of the drug being brought from Canada to Barbados earlier this month.
During the briefing at the ministry in Wildey, St Michael, Senior Registrar at the Psychiatric Hospital, Dr Ronald Chase, revealed that persons have already presented to treatment facilities with addiction to meth.
He said that while the patients admitted to using the drug in the past, there was no scientific evidence to show that they used it in Barbados.
“This is the first seizure, so this is the first confirmation of meth being on the island. So unfortunately, I will be blunt and say, there are probably persons already addicted to meth in the country,” Dr Chase said.
Director of the Forensic Sciences Centre, Cheryl Corbin, reported that the centre had its first confirmed meth case late last year.
“We have confirmed the presence of it here, we don’t know how much we have actually missed. But just having the occurrence of one confirmation is more than enough for concern,” Corbin said.
Describing the situation as “serious” Minister Abrahams stressed that authorities need the public’s help to stop the use of the drug from spreading.
The minister said in the coming weeks, Government and private agencies will establish a public awareness drug campaign to highlight the harm associated with meth use, the signs and symptoms in users of the drug and where help may be sought.
“This one is very serious because of how highly addictive it is and because of the societal consequences which flow from a society that is using meth. This is not the time to keep your mouth shut and think that you are protecting somebody or you are not snitching.
“The person that you don’t snitch on, or the person that you don’t encourage to seek help or the person that you don’t seek help for, may all of a sudden just drop dead from the use of meth and then you are going to be asking yourself what if. . .I am asking the young people who are discovering themselves and trying out things, leave this one alone, it will end badly for you,” he said
Also confirming that there are a “couple cases” before the law courts related to meth possession, Minister Abrahams said there are some who felt the public should not be made aware of the development at this point. However, he insisted, the discovery must not be swept under the carpet and Barbadians should be fully informed on the issue.
“We had to be aware of the sensitivities of the investigations, and the proceedings going on in court. I do not, as the Minister of Home Affairs and as the minister under whose portfolio the NCSA [National Council on Substance Abuse] falls, intend to cover up anything in relation to the presence of any drug in Barbados. From the time we know and it is confirmed, we are going to tell you,” Abrahams said.
“And for all those who are going to call this alarmist, the public needs to know upfront what to look out for. If your child is acting strangely or your boyfriend or whoever is acting strangely, you must be able to start to identify or investigate what is going on.
“People need to not be afraid to come forward for assistance, it is not the habit of the police to arrest persons who seek assistance or treatment. So somebody coming into the psychiatric hospital or going to a doctor to try to get assistance for a meth addiction is not going to get arrested for possession. If the police hold you with it, that is a different story.”
Assistant Superintendent Anthony Warner told the briefing that there has not been any large-scale seizures of meth and the drug is not produced on the island.
The police officer said partnerships have been formed with international law enforcement agencies to identify sources and trends used by those trying to get illegal substances into Barbados.
He revealed that on March 14, the quantity of meth was discovered being brought from Canada to Barbados.
“That all has to do with the relationships that we as a country formed with other countries in trying to deal with these issues that we are facing. We are continuing all of our policing initiatives to deal with all types of illegal drugs entering and leaving Barbados.
“I say leaving especially for meth because Barbados would be seen as a transhipment point to traffic these drugs to the real intended destinations, and because of that, some will be left here,” Warner said.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb
