CICAD assesses the status of the drug problem in the Americas

At the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission’s biannual meeting in the Caribbean city of Santa Marta, Colombia on November 27-30, the delegates took the pulse of the hemisphere’s health concerning the drug problem by reviewing and approving reports on the performance of 34 member states as well as examining hemispheric trends in drug trafficking and abuse.

The first set of diagnostics corresponds to the Fourth Evaluation Round of the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM), which takes into account multiple aspects of dealing with the drug problem. The Commission unanimously approved 34 country reports covering the period of 2005-2006. The reports are available online.

The cover of the MEM evaluation on the United States, one of 34 reports for the 2005-2006 period.

The Fourth Evaluation Round resulted in 453 recommendations, the largest number in the areas of control of pharmaceutical products, international conventions and money laundering control. Each county report consists of a brief introduction, a narrative body of recommendations that deal with four aspects: institutional strengthening, demand reduction, supply reduction, and control measures, followed by conclusions in which the main aspects are summarized. Reports are prepared by the Governmental Expert Group, which consists of specialists from each of the 34 member states, assisted by the Executive Secretariat’s MEM Section.

CICAD implemented this mechanism in response to a mandate of the Second Summit of the Americas in 1998. With the political commitment and participation of CICAD’s member states, the MEM continues to fulfill its two original objectives: to identify progress and setbacks in anti-drug policies and programs in each country, emphasizing a balanced approach; and to help countries generate internal support in their fight against illegal drugs, stimulating reforms and the development of systems to enhance drug control and deal with the social impact of drug use.

In 2009, follow-up country reports on the fourth round of recommendations will be drafted to determine how responsive governments have been to the proposals. A hemisphere-wide report that examines regional trends in drug trafficking, abuse and prevention and other issues will be published in mid-2008.

New waves in the Americas

In response to the concern of several member states regarding recent upsurges in drug availability and consumption, the Commission organized an expert panel at the Santa Marta meeting to discuss the latest trends in drug trafficking and abuse in the hemisphere.

Several Southern Cone countries that used to be exclusively transit points in trafficking operations or money laundering outlets have become more involved in the actual drug processing work. This shift has resulted in the increased availability of semi-refined cocaine products (bazuka, cocaine base, coca paste) , as well as cocaine itself in the local market. These products contain harmful chemicals and impurities that compound the damage done by the stimulant itself. These are frequently sold inexpensively, at one US dollar a dose, in poor neighborhoods of major cities.

Dr. Francisco Cumsille,
OID Coordinator

Other trends that have emerged recently are the growth of non-medical use of prescription drugs, increased polysubstance abuse, frequently combined with alcohol, and a drop in perceived risk of drug use among key population groups, like teenagers and young adults.

Dr. Francisco Cumsille, coordinator of CICAD’s Inter-American Observatory on Drugs (OID), pointed out that about 20-25% (depending on the country and the type of drug) of drug users (called problematic users) account for the majority (around 75-80%) so a government might have more impact focusing on that core of heavy users to reduce demand. Another policy option is for governments to concentrate on preventing casual users from “graduating” into the core group.

The OID is recommending that member states set up early alert systems to detect local shifts in drug use so they can adjust their drug abuse prevention programs and control measures accordingly.

CICAD Executive Secretary James Mack recounted how CICAD action programs are adapting quickly to the changing dynamics of trends in the region. These measures include an increased use of the Internet to deliver specialized distance training and to share money laundering case typologies securely among law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as to make drug related information available to the general public.

Alternative Development

Bolivian growers that worked with a
CICAD-backed initiative improved their management and marketing methods.

For more than a full day, the Commission discussed the issue of Alternative Development in the context of CICAD’s mandate. The Executive Secretariat had distributed a concept paper several weeks before the meeting to serve as a starting point for discussion. The Commission first heard from a panel of experts that drew on lessons learned from past rural development projects in the Andean region. Then, the country delegations themselves brought forward their own experiences in implementing initiatives to support former growers of illicit crops.

The discussion produced multiple proposals. The Commission approved the creation of an Expert Group on Alternative Development to analyze these initiatives to determine the most cost-effective, feasible initiatives, given CICAD’s mandate and limited budget. At the next CICAD meeting in Washington, April 30-May 2, the Commission will review and approve the Expert Group's mandate and terms of reference. More details are available in the article on the debate.

Panoramic view of the tropical rainforest of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park in Colombia.

Colombia's Efforts

The CICAD 42 participants also had first-hand exposure to Colombia’s own struggle against drug trafficking and the resulting riptide of armed violence and intimidation. Delegates visited a counterdrug operations base outside of Santa Marta where they saw the law enforcement resources mustered by the Colombian government to fight traffickers. The government also gave a demonstration of how coca is grown, and cocaine is extracted and smuggled, underscoring the ecological damage caused by the process.

A representative of Colombia's forest warden program explains how the project has changed their lives.

Delegates visited alternative development projects near the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains [Photo: above, panoramic view of the tropical rainforest of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park.] where former coca growers now work as forest wardens in a government program. The communities also manage forest bungalows for tourists wishing to experience the wonders of the tropical forest up close. Other former growers cultivate organic coffee and cacao, which are marketed through a special government initiative, called Products of Peace.

The Commission will meet again in April 30-May 2 in Washington, DC.