Day Against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking
Attorney General and Minister of Justice Michael Scott today [June 24] spoke on the upcoming “International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” which takes place this coming Sunday. [June 26].
The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day against drug abuse and the illegal drug trade.
It has been held annually since 1988 on 26 June, a date chosen to commemorate Lin Zexu’s dismantling of the opium trade in Humen, Guangdong, just before the First Opium War in China. The observance was instituted by General Assembly resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987.
Minister Scott said, “The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has declared June 26, 2011 to be the “International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”. As Minister of Justice, I am pleased to announce Bermuda’s participation in this event.”
“The Department for National Drug Control/ Ministry of Justice is joining with the international community to help launch a global campaign to raise awareness about the major challenges that illicit drugs represent in our society as a whole, and especially with our young people.”
“The goal of the campaign is to mobilize, support and inspire people to act against drug abuse and drug trafficking. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Healthy Communities without Drugs”, which highlights the fact that drug abuse poses significant health challenges to those who are afflicted.”
Minister Scott’s full statement follows below:
Good Afternoon,
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has declared June 26, 2011 to be the “International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”. As Minister of Justice, I am pleased to announce Bermuda’s participation in this event.
The Department for National Drug Control/ Ministry of Justice is joining with the international community to help launch a global campaign to raise awareness about the major challenges that illicit drugs represent in our society as a whole, and especially with our young people.
The goal of the campaign is to mobilize, support and inspire people to act against drug abuse and drug trafficking. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Healthy Communities without Drugs”, which highlights the fact that drug abuse poses significant health challenges to those who are afflicted.
The campaign encourages young people to put their health first and to avoid taking illicit drugs. The campaign also focuses on the challenges of drug trafficking and its impact on the individuals and families who become involved. Bermuda has seen at least four young women convicted for drug trafficking in the past year alone which speaks to the current dilemma facing our community.
The Department for National Drug Control has been proactive in focusing activities, through the Drug Prevention Unit, with children as early as preschool age and working with their parents to ensure that refusal skills for drugs and alcohol have been introduced at the earliest possible age level.
Efforts have also been made to ensure that anti-illicit drug information that address health risks and the social and emotional impact to the community are available in all schools in the form of posters, pamphlets, presentations, and programming; with the support from our community partners – PRIDE, CADA, Bermuda Sport Anti-Doping Authority, and the Bermuda Police Service.
Through the continued implementation of strategies outlined in the National Drug Control Master Plan 2007-2011 and Action Plan the Government has acknowledged that drug misuse and its resulting negative impact is a public health issue, and that Bermuda must continue its efforts in addressing the drug problem through demand reduction efforts as well as through supply reduction efforts.
The Ministry recognizes that drugs have become a deeply ingrained part of life and that prevention cannot occur unless social attitudes toward drug use change. Changing social attitudes toward drugs is a difficult undertaking, but not an impossible one. Many segments of society must become involved in the effort.
The message that drug use is unacceptable, unhealthy, and unnecessary must be communicated in a credible and consistent manner by the family, schools, media, business community, medical and legal experts, politicians, professional athletes, and other public figures. Being free of drugs must become a highly desirable personal attribute for all of Bermuda.
In recognition of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the DNDC will be hosting community education booths at Albouy’s Point, Victoria and Par-la-ville parks in Hamilton, in Dockyard, and on the Square in St. George’s, during the week of June 27, 2011.
I urge the community to join us in acknowledging the “International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” and to embrace the slogan “Healthy Communities without Drugs”.
Thank You.
How about they start by having all the government ministers tested and results published….otherwise stop wasting our time
What about getting your PIS CHECK and results publish.
Why should a private citizen do that he/she isn’t spening your money……………
dumb comment didn’t expect any different though how many MPs do you think would actually pass a piss test I know I could name a few………..
LOL
“The message that drug use is unacceptable, unhealthy, and unnecessary must be communicated in a credible and consistent manner by the family, schools, media, business community, medical and legal experts, politicians, professional athletes, and other public figures. Being free of drugs must become a highly desirable personal attribute for all of Bermuda.”
The funny thing is, you say drug use should be seen as unnecessary and unacceptable. Why is alcohol not included in this since alcohol is in fact a drug.
Good luck convincing people that drugs are bed with that Dark & stormy in her hand…
depends on the drug really IMO anyway levels of addiction and what said addiction can/has made people do. I include drinking in this…..
LOL
Also, Members of Parliament do not take mandatory drug tests, that doesn’t strike you as counter productive to your so called goals?
It would be useful if the Department of National Drug Control would also recognize the abuse of prescription medication and also the over-prescription of pharmaceutical drugs.
For example, kids are often prescribed Ritalin for ADD without much consideration for natural remedies and the the pharmacological effects Ritalin are almost identical to cocaine. The UN drug commission also classified Ritalin as a larger risk to society than Ecstasy (not that I’m condoning using Ecstasy).
So without trying to rant nor discount the good work done by the Department of National Drug Control, I really wish that abuse of any form of drugs is condemned whether classified as legal or not .
agreed
On c-span last night a graph was shown by an official of one of the U.S Armed forces . It showed that the production of opium in Afganistan rose dramatically in the four years that American Forces have been there . Of course the blame was attributed to the Talibans need to raise revenue to continue to mount their terroist campaign against the civilized world . Question is , who is consuming these massive amounts , metric tonnes per year of this particular drug , who is smuggling it across the globe , and many more questions ?
PLP…lead by example…otherwise you come across as hypocritical.
C’mon Son!!!
PLP is playing you people for fools on a daily basis. When will you people learn?