Cabinet sanctioned the appointment of 11 members to the National Drugs Advisory Council last week.
The members appointed are Chairman McKenzie Baltimore Sr., Vareen Vanterpool, Gracia Wheatley, Chonda Jeffers, Police Commissioner David Morris, Customs Commissioner Wade Smith, Brenda Fahie, Orville Clarke, Dr. Harlan Vanterpool, Dr. K.P. Adamson, and Stacy Mather, according to Government Information Services.
Tasha Bertie, the deputy secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, said the council’s role is “to keep under review the situation in the territory with respect to drugs which are or appear to be misused and that the misuse of said drugs or substances is or appears capable of having harmful effects sufficient to constitute a social problem.”
Ms. Bertie further explained that the NDAC will advise the health and social development minister on measures to be taken to address the social problems arising from the misuse of illicit drugs.
In addition, she said the council will make recommendations for restricting the availability of illicit drugs.
The council will also help enable community members affected by the misuse of illicit drugs to obtain advice for securing treatment.
The Drugs Prevention and Misuse Act states that the membership of the NDAC should consist of between seven and 11 people experienced in the practice of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or pharmacy, as well as people with a wide range of experience in the social problems connected with the misuse of drugs.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development will offer administrative support to the NDAC and will assist the new council in focusing its efforts on the completion of a comprehensive assessment of the drug situation in the territory, according to GIS.
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