Defence boost against emerging drug threats

Barbados is bracing for potential new drug threats, with authorities warning of dangerous substances like fentanyl that have caused havoc in North America, the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) said on Wednesday.

The NCSA is leading efforts to prepare first responders and enhance monitoring systems to help Barbados stay ahead of evolving substance abuse challenges.

“We are making a conscious effort to train our first responders to detect and handle the use of narcotic substances,” said Deputy Manager Troy Wickham during NCSA Open Day.

“This is obviously to build capacity. It’s important for us to be ready, to be proactive as it relates to these things. I know that there have been several reports in North America as it relates to fentanyl. This is a dangerous substance. So it’s important that we are prepared in advance of that.”

As part of Drug Awareness Month, the NCSA is hosting workshops to build capacity among first responders, equipping them with the skills to identify and manage new psychoactive substances.

These efforts are supported by Barbados’ integration into the Early Warning System of the Americas, a regional mechanism that monitors and reports on emerging drug trends across the hemisphere.

In 2023, Barbados recorded the seizure of ecstasy, methamphetamine, and synthetic cannabinoids MDMA-Bullica and MDMA-Pinnica, both of which have been linked to deaths in North America and Europe.

While no new substances have been confirmed on the island since then, an earlier study by the Barbados Drug Information Network (BARDIN) reported a slow diversification of the drug market over the past seven years, with cases involving non-traditional substances like Xanax, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

But Wickham noted that some individuals may seek residential treatment here for drug-related problems originating abroad, which may contribute to these findings.

In addition to strengthening its early warning systems, the NCSA is also ramping up its public awareness efforts.

“We are also bracing for impact by doing more educational activities . . . and using information from the hemisphere to guide or to enforce our drug education initiatives,” said the NCSA deputy manager.

The NCSA Open Day, held at its headquarters in Belleville, aimed to raise public awareness of the anti-drug abuse agency’s ongoing initiatives.

Members of the public, especially students, were invited to meet with NCSA staff and partners, including the Barbados Defence Force and Verdun House, and take part in educational activities about substance abuse prevention.

Counsellor Mosiah Hoyte noted the importance of public involvement: “We felt it was important for people to understand what we are doing at the NCSA and how we are tackling the drug situation in Barbados.”

He shared that the month of activities, themed Strengthening Prevention will also feature the release of NCSA’s annual BARDIN report findings and the Voices of the Youth Speech Contest finals.

The month of activities, according to the substance abuse officer, aims to further emphasise the importance of education and community engagement in addressing drug-related issues.

In addition, Hoyte shared a call for people to sign up to volunteer with the council.

“Our staff is a small staff with a huge mandate. We are trying to have a volunteer pool of persons we can use to help us get the message out there,” he said.

“Persons are encouraged to come to the office or fill out the forms online.”

Training for NCSA volunteers starts on February 1.

Shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb