Volume 3, Issue 2 December, 2013

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MALI

GUINEA

NIGER

GHANA

SENEGAL

GAMBIA

LIBERIA TOGO

GUINEA-BISSAU

CAPEVERDE

SIERRALEONE

MAURITANIA

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

BURKINA FASO

NIGERIABENIN

In this issue:Editorial comment

GIABA on Money Laundering in West Africa

A Big Man with a Big Mission

Getting the message across through music

The Development Response to Drug Trafficking in Africa

Responding to the Substance Abuse Phenomenon

Ghana’s Focus on Drug Demand Reduction

Continental Experts Consultation

Drug Demand Reduction: Key needs of African States

The Asian Centre for Education and Certification of Addiction Professionals

UNODC drug demand reduction work in Africa

AFRICAN UNION

www.au.int Volume 3, Issue 2 December, 2013

More:

West Africa, which is experiencing a meltdown of sorts due to rapidly rising

trade and consumption of illicit drugs, has taken the battle against the scourge to another level.

A regionally-led independent, high-level body or group of “champions” has been formed to strengthen and intensify on-going work of regional and national actors on drug trafficking and related issues in West Africa.

The group, in the form of a high level commission called the West Africa Commission on Drugs (WACD) aims at mobilizing public opinion and catalys-ing political support for fur ther action at national, regional and international levels before drug fuelled problems become totally unmanageable. It is essentially a commission on the impact of drug trafficking on governance, secu-rity and development in West Africa.

The WACD is an initiative of United Nations former Secretary General, Kofi Anan in consultation with international and regional partners, national govern- Continues on page 4

West Africa Leaving No Stone Unturned in Fight Against Illicit Drugs 2

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West Africa Commission on Drugs Formed

West Africa

ments and civil society organizations. It had its inaugural meeting in January 2013 and is chaired by H.E Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria. It also includes other distinguished West Africans from politics, civil soci-ety, health, security and the judiciary.

West Africa has increasingly become a hub in the global drugs trade, as a conduit, a producer and a

Let the Continent Speak Out!

Drug News Africa

Drug News Africa

2

Africa is grappling with the problem of illicit drug trafficking and abuse, and

related crimes. Narcotic drugs and associated crime have become a veritable scourge undermining the continent’s peace and security, social development and public health - a problem that transcends all of Africa’s five regions some of whom are experiencing a melt-down of sorts.

There is a threat of illicit drugs becoming an underground economic development model with dire conse-quences on Africa’s well-being. This is no longer an illusion. Existence of the challenge of illicit drug trafficking and consumption on the African conti-nent cannot be contested as doing so would be akin to burying our heads in the sand.

That is why the African Union has commissioned a comprehen-sive study of the socio-economic and security challenges of drug traffick-ing and related organized crime in Africa with initial focus on West Africa and the Sahel region. That the study is in line with a direct request by the 351st meeting of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council held on 16 January 2013 in Addis Ababa,

inaction is not an option. It behooves Member States to be guided accord-ingly by the AU Action plan together with its accompanying implementation matrix. The AU Commission’s role is to co-ordinate, monitor and evaluate implementation, as well as to facilitate technical assistance to Member States and regional economic communities.

Meanwhile, we applaud combined effor ts in West Africa to try and address the challenge of illicit drugs through a number of initiatives as reported else-where in this issue.

We also believe that a prob-lem shared is a problem solved. Therefore, your comments and arti-cles are appreciated. We would like to share your research, good prac-tices and challenges. The spirit in our DNA is always to tackle the problems of drugs and crime head on to emanci-pate ourselves.

Ethiopia, only shows the continent’s growing concern about drugs.

The African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control (2013-2017) is a strategic framework being used to guide drug policy development in Africa. The Plan aims to balance effor ts on supply and demand reduc-tion, the latter having been some-what neglected previously. It encom-passes a multi-sectoral and balanced approach between legislative norm setting, law enforcement and drug abuse prevention and treatment with a view to improving the health, secu-rity and socioeconomic well-being of people in Africa by reducing drug use, illicit trafficking and associated crimes.

This plan is to be seen in a context where drug trafficking has a big impact on democratic governance and armed conflict on the continent with clear links established between drug-related organized crime, corrup-tion and terrorism. As large quanti-ties of drugs transit through the conti-nent, both local consumption and production of certain drugs are also increasing.

Africa cannot not act. Rhetoric must be translated into action. The continent is no longer at ease and

Editorial comment:It’s in Our DNA

H.E Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, AUC Commissioner for Social Affairs

There is acute substance abuse in a hidden societies (African Prisons) according to a study

conducted by the United Nations

African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI). The study sought to find out whether there were drugs in prisons and if so how they got into prisons and also whether the situation in prisons mirrored society at large. The study showed that drugs are available in prisons and got there through domiciliary trafficking in three ways namely the public (visitors) through food and drinks, prisons staff seeking quick extra money and inmates themselves using methods used across borders such as swallowing. Findings of the study pointed strongly

For more information, contact Dr. Alhas Maicibi, Head of Research and Development at UNAFRI on: alhas202@yahoo.co.uk

In Brief:

Drug Abuse Treatment in Prison Settings

to the need for DDR activities within prison settings and in particular, separation, detoxification, rehabilitation and complete detachment from access and use. There are a number of reasons why prisons are not doing the right things. These reasons include lack of personnel, inadequate medical facilities, lack of funding and misconception which give the prison services a poor image outside

Volume 3, Issue 2 December, 2013

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The use of cannabis among males in South Africa is now twice that of the world. Parenting and recreation are ranked highest among community needs.

Key challenges include strengthen-ing research and development, contin-ual assessment, refining and adjusting the NDMP, developing the structure and, and the competence of those populating it, and conducting effective monitoring and evaluation

For more information, contact Dr. Ray Eberlein, Substance Abuse Treatment Expert, South Africa on email: eberlein@netactive.co.za

GIABA is an Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa.

It was established by the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in 2000 to protect economies of ECOWAS member states by developing strategies to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism in the region and by assisting their effective implementation.

According to Dr. Abdullahi Y. Shehu, Director General of GIABA the idea is to “go after the money”, denying criminals access to proceeds generated through criminal activities and thereby making organized crime unprofitable.

The seven pillars of GIABA’s Strategic Plan for 2011-2014 include compliance monitoring, technical assistance to member states and regional and international coopera-tion. Based on this plan, GIABA works to assist Member States to enact, upgrade and harmonize legislation against money laundering; to develop structures and mechanisms against money laundering; and to help estab-lish, strengthen, and resource Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs). However, the fight against money laundering in West

Africa faces many hurdles, among them the high prevalence of corrup-tion, inadequate political commitment, inadequate resources and compet-ing priorities, poor compliance culture with minimum standards, poor investi-gative and intelligence-gathering skills, prevalence of socio-cultural practices and attitudes that glorify wealth and the fact that most economies in the region are still cash-based

GIABA on Money Laundering in West Africa

Dr. Abdullahi Y. Shehu, Director General of GIABA spoke on efforts to curb money laundering in west Africa Picture McDonald Achaab, KAIPTC

South Africa’s National Drug Master Plan (NDMP) emphasizes community level interventions

with active involvement of Local Drug

Action Committees. Outcomes of the NDMP include reducing bio-socio-economic impact of substance abuse, communities enabled to deal with substance abuse related problems, recreational and diversion programmes to prevent onset of substance abuse, reduction of availability of addictive substances, integrated diagnosis, treatment and funding of substance abuse and related disorders as well as harmonization of laws and policies on substances of abuse.

Cannabis is the most widely abused substance in South Africa followed by heroin, mandrax and coke.

South Africa’s National Drug Master Plan

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni believes interventions to fight illicit drug

abuse and trafficking should focus on empowering local communities to direct their orientation away from collaboration with criminals.

He told an African Union meeting on Drug Demand Reduction held in Kampala recently, that local commu-nities needed to be guided and facil-itated with special understanding and acknowledgement of the drug problem.

This is because the drug problem is people-centred and executed with the knowledge of local communities who are also agents and beneficiaries of peace, security and development.

“The first line of operation will be the local communities…Our people should be incorporated into the machinery that fights crime by enabling them to detect all symptoms with potential of developing into criminal activity,” President Museveni said.

While acknowledging that the fight against drugs was difficult to execute, the Ugandan President said it was possible to contain the challenge with relentless resolve at national, regional and international levels

Local Communities Critical Cog in Fight Against Illicit Drugs - Museveni

Drug News Africa

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From Left Mr. Edem Kodjo, Former Prime Minister of Togo and former OAU Secretary General, H.E Olusegun Obasanjo, WACD Chairperson and Mr Alan Dos of the Kofi Anan Foundation at the 2nd Session of WACD in Accra, Ghana in April 2013. Picture McDonald Achaab, KAIPTC

consumer. In recent years, the trans-shipment of narcotics from Latin America through West Africa to Europe and North America has increased significantly.

The role of WACD is premised on three basic but broad objectives namely: mobilizing public awareness and political commitment; developing evidence based policy recommenda-tions; and developing local and regional capacities and ownership.

Increasingly, organized crime syndicates are operating in West Africa to ensure safe passage of drug cargos through the region and local consumption of drugs has increased substantially.

“These developments pose serious and multifarious threats to the peace and stability of West Africa,” according to the WACD.

It is feared the apparent conver-gence of drug traffickers, arms trad-ers and armed extremist groups, if left unchecked, could destabilize the region and recent events in the Sahel region have reinforced such concerns

Continued from page 1

Name Country Position

President Olusegun Obasanjo

Nigeria WACD Chairman and Former President of Nigeria

President Pedro Pires Cape Verde Former President

Mr. Edem Kodjo Togo Former Prime Minister

Ms Oumou Sangare Mali Singer/Songwriter

Dr. Idrissa Ba Senegal Professor, Psychiatric Hospital of Thiaroye

Justice Bankole Thompson Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Special Tribunal

Dr. Mary Chinery Hesse Ghana Member, African Union Panel of the Wise

Dr. Alpha Abdoulaye Diallo Guinea National Coordinator, Reseau Afrique Jeunesse

Ms. Christine Kafondo Burkina Faso Founder, Association Espoir pour Demain

Mr. Adeolu Ogunrombi Nigeria Project Coordinator, Youth Rise Project

Dr. Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou

Mauritania Visiting Professor, Graduate Institute of International Development Studies; Head, Regional Development, Geneva Centre for Security Policy

For more information, contact: www.wacommissionondrugs.org and also Doss@kofiannanfoundation.org

Members of the West Africa Commission on Drugs

Volume 3, Issue 2 December, 2013

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H.E Olusegun Obasanjo served as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

from 1999 to 2007. His administration tackled corruption as a major priority, establishing dedicated bodies and strengthening existing ones. Upon leaving office, he oversaw the first civilian handover of power in Nigeria from one democratically-elected leader to another.

On the regional front, President Obasanjo has played a pivotal role in the regeneration and repositioning of the African Union with the African Peer Review Mechanism and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. He has consistently supported strengthening of regional cooperation through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Co-prosperity Alliance Zone.

He has at different times served as Chairman of the Group of 77,

Chairman of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Chairman of the African Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee on NEPAD, and today serves on the African Progress Panel to moni-tor and promote Africa‘s devel-opment. He was also involved in international mediation effor ts in Namibia, Angola, South Africa, Mozambique and Burundi. In 2008, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed President Obasanjo as his Special Envoy on the Great Lakes.

Drug News Africa’s Abel Basutu caught up with H.E. President Obasanjo, who

is Chairman of the West Africa Commission on Drugs, in the Ghanaian Capital Accra on May 30 2013 and posed a few questions to him. Here is what he had to say.

Abel Basutu: Your Excellency, why would such a big man devote his time into issues of fighting drugs?

H.E. President Obasanjo: You talk of a big man. Drugs have also become a big issue. The impact of drugs is real and transcends all sectors of the economy from political to economic, health, social spheres and so on. Trade and consumption of illicit drugs erodes the very fabric of society.

Abel Basutu: What is the scale and magnitude of the problem of drugs in West Africa?

H. E. President Obasanjo: The dangers of organised crime such as money laundering and drug trafficking are acute in West Africa. Drugs pose a threat to national security, health and social development. Drugs are being used to distabilize and topple regimes.

Drugs are affecting our societies and in some instances politicians and highly placed government officials are involved. Drugs are also linked to trafficking of arms and human beings.

Abel Basutu: How then can such a crisis be tackled?

H.E. President Obasanjo: We need to acknowledge the gravity of the problem, to be able to respond with holistic solutions for instance addressing both Drug demand and supply reduction, strengthening governance, our judicial and security systems etc. There is a lot to be done.

Abel Basutu: Your Excellency, I acknowledge your effor ts but realistically can this battle won be won?

H.E. President Obasanjo: With certain problems you can’t talk of eradication. For example you cannot eradicate corruption, you cannot eradicate stealing but lower them to ineffective levels in society. That’s what we are hoping to achieve. It makes a difference. We will be held accountable if we do not act. We cannot have a situation like that and ignore it. We need men and women of diverse backgrounds to be involved in the fight against drugs.

Abel Basutu: But is there political will within West Africa to address the challenge of illicit drugs?

H.E. President Obasanjo: That is part of our job to galvanise that political will through advocacy and inspiring our leaders to be aware of the dangers of doing nothing.

Abel Basutu: A big man with a big vision indeed. Thank you Your Excellency for affording Drug News Africa time to hear from you

Members of the West Africa Commission on Drugs

A Big Man with a Big MissionOne on One with H.E President Olusegun Obasanjo – Chairman of the West Africa Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

“We will be held accountable if we do not act”

Drug News Africa

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His Excellency Edem Kodjo is a diplomat, politician, lecturer, economist and

writer. He has worked at senior levels in his home country Togo, at the West African sub-regional level as well as at the continental level. Edem Kodjo held the position of Prime Minister of Togo from 1994 to 1996, and again from 2004 to 2006. He also served as Finance Minister and Foreign Minister. He was the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity from 1978-1983. For almost 10 years he was Associate Professor of Development

Economics and African Studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris. He is a known writer and has authored a number of books and articles. In March 2011 Edem Kodjo was made ECOWAS Ambassador for life at the Heads of State Summit in Abuja. In May of the same year he founded the Pan African Forum for Peace and Development, PAX AFRICANA whose main objective is to work at reducing conflict and to promote accelerated development on the continent. Edem Kodjo retired from active politics in 2009

H.E Edem Kodjo WACD Commissioner

Former OAU Secretary General a Commissioner for WACD

A Grammy-award winning singer, Oumou Sangaré is known as the “songbird of

Wassoulou” and an ambassador for the music of Mali. She sings about universal themes in life such as love,

death, destiny, respect for each other, hope and harmony, but

also the fun things in life. In October 2003 she was named Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Oumou Sangaré is an advocate for women’s rights, opposing female circumcision, child marriage and polygamy.

Sangaré told Drug News Africa her role was simple

– to bring to people, through music, the message on the dangers of illicit drug trafficking and consumption. This is because music is a universal language.

“I believe I can use my role as a musician in the region and elsewhere to get the message across. Music has that power,” she told Drug News Africa.

She said much of political instabil-ity in the region was in part fuelled by proceeds from illicit drug trafficking.

“Mali is undergoing a crisis at the moment due in part to the role of illicit drugs. So it behooves us to carry this message to the people by raising their awareness because drugs have a polit-ical, social and health consequences as well,” said Sangaré

Getting the Message Across through Music

Mali Musician Oumou Sangaré is a Commissioner for WACD

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Did You Know?The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

(Adopted by the 26th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – July 1990)

Article 28: Drug Abuse

States Parties to the present Charter shall take all appropriate measures to protect the child from the use of narcotics and illicit use of psychotropic substances as defined in the relevant international treaties, and to prevent the use of children in the production and trafficking of such substances.

Article 29: Sale, Trafficking and Abduction

States Parties to the present Charter shall take appropriate measures to prevent:

a. the abduction, the sale of, or trafficking of children for any purpose or in any form, by any person including parents or legal guardians of the child;

b. the use of children in all forms of begging

Volume 3, Issue 2 December, 2013

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guidance at the second session of the WACD held in Ghana in April 2013. The program-ming guide was recently devel-oped to under-stand the relation- ship between drug trafficking and devel-opment assistance. It is based on case studies in Ghana, Kenya, the Mano River sub-region (Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia), and Mozambique with a focus on heroin and cocaine trafficking.

The rationale behind the guide is that many development practitioners see drug trafficking as a security issue and ignore it despite the many nega-tive consequences that it has on the overall development of a country

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The Development Response to Drug Trafficking in Africa: A Programming Guide

West Africa is experiencing a melt down of sorts as far as illicit drug consumption and trade are concerned

According to Brooke Stearns, Transnational Organized Crime Advisor, USAID Africa

Bureau, Development practitioners must “get smart” on the issue of drug trafficking and try to use development approaches that are crime-sensitive.

This means using programmes to decrease the impact of drug traf-ficking. Programmes that support governance, for instance, can help to enact anti-money laundering legisla-tion. On the other hand, Rule of law programmes can help build prose-cutorial capacity to freeze and seize assets and to obtain conviction and forfeitures. Programmes in the health sector can include the set up and support of drug treatment initiatives. Community policing programmes can be effective to counter the violence associated with drug markets.

Stearns outlined this programming For more information, contact :goedde@kofiannanfoundation.org

Development practitioners must “get smart” on the issue o`f drug trafficking and try to use development approaches that are crime-sensitive. This means using programmes to decrease the impact of drug trafficking

Drug News Africa

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in a Catch-22 situation strong on law enforcement initiatives but unable to treat drug dependency. Thus supply reduction is touted at the expense of demand reduction – but with grave consequences which now call for a balanced approach.

Dr. Gerra made at a conti-nental experts’ consultation on Drug Demand Reduction held Kampala, Uganda, l9-21 February 2013.

At least 80% of children and young adults particularly in Africa, were taking to drugs as a daily habit with counterfeit psychotropic medications widely used.

“With chemical Slavery, the dignity of the person is compromised. Sanity goes, morality goes. There is also the interaction between drug abuse and human trafficking,” said Dr Gerra.

He said drug dependence was a disorder of aberrant learning with strong instrumental memories which could link actions to drug-seeking,

persisting stimulus-response habits and neutral environmental stimuli associated with drug highs through Pavlovian conditioning.

“Drug dependence is therefore a non-recognized disease, a discrimi-nated disease for which the response is often punishment instead of treat-ment. This is especially so where resources are scarce for the health care system in general” he said.

The pathogenesis of the disease includes: Genes at risk influenc-ing temperament and personality traits; Disorganized/poor child-parent attachment; Inappropriate childrear-ing parental style; Lack of bonding to family; Low engagement in school; Degraded neighbourhood and High peer pressure - unwholesome social atmosphere detrimental to physical, mental and moral well-being

Factors fuelling risk conditions in Africa include; poverty, social exclu-sion, displacement, post-conflict conflicts, children as soldiers, human trafficking vulnerability, women in diffi-cult conditions, depression and anxi-ety. Dr Gerra said substance abuse

Responding to the Substance Abuse Phenomenon: A Complex Strategy“You are not garbage, you are not a criminal, you are not guilty, you are not a shame….you simply need help”

Chemical Slavery; A new form of slavery affecting the world today

Forget about political and economic slavery. These have given way to a new colonial

master - Chemical Slavery - which manifests itself in acute dependency and addiction to illicit drugs, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Chief of Drug Prevention and Health, Dr Gilberto Gerra.

He said it was time the interna-tional community reached to multi-tudes of people affected by substance use disorders to tell them “You are not garbage, you are not a criminal, you are not guilty, you are not a shame….you simply need help.” Unfortunately most Governments have been caught

At least 80% of the children and young adults on the streets of Africa take paraffin- mafuta regularly as a daily daily habit

Continues on page 9

Volume 3, Issue 2 December, 2013

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was not a marginal problem in Africa. Illicit drugs, prescription drugs and alcohol abuse: affect cognitive capac-ity and mental health of new genera-tions; affect development, creativity, new initiatives; undermine health and compromising the immune system; break family and social cohesion; reduce employment rate and impair job capacity; compromise security and offer vulnerable employed to gangs.

Basic conditions enabling drug use prevention programmes and interfering on mediating factors:i. school opportunities for childrenii. social support for family/ family

aggregationiii. educational opportunities for

adults/job skillsiv. basic health care interventions

-health information disseminationv. involvement of elders, authorities,

law enforcement, teachersvi. community empowerment -

respect for cultural identity

Dr Gerra said effective treatment of drug dependency called for a stop in the use of simple ineffective uneth-ical solutions such as detention, punishment and stigmatization.

Minimal package: drug dependence treatment

i. Non-professional volunteers trained

ii. Nurses visiting periodicallyiii. Medical doctor supervising

long-distanceiv. Primary care involvedv. Out-patients/community

approachvi. First line social assistance:

food, temporary shelter, clean clothes

vii. Brief interventionviii. Counsellingix. Self-help groups

Medications:i. opioid agonists, antagonists,

antidepressants, anti-psychotic drugs

ii. Vocational skills: income generating initiatives (protected work)

Small number of beds for acute clinical interventions and short term hospitalization

Minimal package: drug dependence treatmenti. In specialized centres:ii. Patients assessment (psychiatric

comorbidity)iii. Elements of cognitive behavioural

therapyiv. Motivational interviewingv. Family support/therapyvi. Medications for mental health

disorders

Drug law enforcement in Ghana is coordinated by Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), an

in inter-ministerial, body represented by seventeen ministries, and whose functions are spelt out in Legislative Instrument 1507.

Its mandate covers both drug demand and drug supply reduction. Ghana developed the 2008/2010 stra-tegic plan that integrated both demand and supply reduction, and just drafted a new law upon which a revised 2013-2015 is being drawn. However, the loca-tion of NACOB under Interior ministry places too much emphasis on enforce-ment to the detriment of demand reduction; does not have much clout

being a board; and is faced with inad-equate funding and human resource.

In moving forward, a new Narcotics Bill which raises the Board to a Commission with more fund-ing and personnel has been drafted. In addition, there is an opportunity for improved treatment under the new mental health law that has been enacted.

Emerging trends in illicit drug consumption in Ghana include cases of inhalation of petrochemical agents, unconfirmed reports about injecting drug use in prisons, effects of drugs on new born-related while a shocking observation of a two-day old baby seen exhibiting heroin withdrawal symptom

require fur ther study. While reporting availability of a range of treatment services including eclec-tic at the psychiatric hospitals (detox, antipsychotics as substitution), thera-peutic community (at one psychiatric hospital), 12-step approach, AA and NA meetings, Half-way homes, endur-ance and diversion at faith-based centres, there are gaps in terms lack of drop-in centres lack of drug treat-ment services in prisons settings, and lack of diversion programmes for drug users arrested for possession

For more information, please contact Dr. Gilberto Gerra on email: gilberto.gerra@unodc.org and Twitter @gilbertogerra

For more information, contact Dr. Akwasi Osei, Chief Psychiatrist, Ghana Health service on email: akwasiosei@yahoo.com

Ghana’s Focus on Drug Demand Reduction Narcotics Bill which raises the Board to a Commission with more funding and personnel has been drafted

Continued from Page 8

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Continental Experts Consultationon Drug Demand Reduction - Key Highlights

AU Members States and Development partners urged to support Drug Demand reduction initiatives, to solicit resources and technical support to regularly gather authorities responsible for demand reduction to review progress, entrench monitoring and evaluation, with a view to better under-standing of dynamics and complexity of drug use

Need for establishment of a statutory Forum similar to Heads of National Law Enforcement Agencies (HONLEA ), Africa, for regular drug demand reduction consultations

Need for adequate technical and financial support in drug demand reduc-tion, in particular, evidence based drug use prevention and treatment ser-vices by Member States and development partners.

Need for mobilization of technical and financial support for the establish-ment of epidemiological networks and, as well as for research on drug de-pendent treatment and care in the African context.

Need for expansion of the capacity for resource and Information Centres to enhance knowledge and information on drug demand reduction strategies and activities.

Need for technical support in judicial, legislative, and policy development and review;

Need for Targeted training on drug use prevention at all community levels

Need for a continental training facility on drug dependency treatment

Drugs to be viewed as a public health issue

Punitive law enforcement vis a vis reintegration and rehabilitation for drug dependency

Concern on the structure and placement of drugs under jurisdiction of Law Enforcement in government with some suggestions for placing it under the Presidency to facilitate resource mobilization

Recognition of the role of traditional and faith-based healers in Drug depen-dency treatment and prevention

Need to conduct studies on the impact of sub-regional conflicts and the refugee problem on drug trafficking and use

Recognition of drugs as an overarching social development issue

Cannabis remains the predominant drug of choice in Africa, responsible for numerous problems which impact health, security, the economy, and governance.

Opiates, cocaine, and ATS use is rapidly increasing and requires urgent responses by the international community.

With the exception of 2-4 states, African governments lack the public health infrastructure to address the current situation or deal with increased addic-tion in the coming years. Drug use is expanding in terms of absolute number of drug users and a greater diversity of substances.

9876543210

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Cannabis

CocaineOpioids

Amphetamine type stimulants

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of

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Cumulative unweighted average

of perceived trends in drug use in

Africa by drug type

17.0

10.020.0

30.0

40.050.0

60.070.080.090.000.0

0.0

Percentage of AU Member States that responded to the ARQ questionnaire 2010-2012

2010 2011 2012

Africa AfricaAfrica

17.015.1

Source: UNODC, data from the

annual report questionnaire

*Source: Drug Control Unit, Department of Social Affairs, African Union Commission

Volume 3, Issue 2 December, 2013

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Key Needs of African States

Other:Kenya: Establish certification councilKenya: Develop curriculum and accreditation of training institutions

Specialized Recovery:Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Mauritius

Meeting frequency:Contact list and regular exchange

Dru

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Specialized Female Treatment: Rwanda, South Africa

Specialized Children’s Treatment:Mauritius

Advanced Treatment Skills and Knowledge:Algeria, Liberia, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mauritius

Basic Treatment Skills and Knowledge: Western Sahara, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Gabon, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Comoros

Treatment Guidelines or Protocols: Ghana, Benin, Gabon, Zimbabwe

Coordination ofExisting Services to FormLocal Service Networks: Western Sahara, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, DRC

Vocational Rehabilitation Programs:Cape Verde, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya Eritrea, Namibia, Zambia, Mauritius

Dru

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Female Treatment Programs:Mauritania, Kenya, South Africa

Adolescent Treatment:Cape Verde, Tunisia, South Africa, Mauritius

Child Treatment:Cape Verde

Inpatient (Residential) Treatment Services:Mauritania, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi

Outpatient Treatment Services:Burkina Faso, Niger, Eritrea, Liberia, Ghana, Gabon, DRC, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi

Workplace Prevention:Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia Malawi, South Africa

Brief Intervention:Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Comoros

Dru

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Mentoring:Western Sahara

Media Campaigns: Mauritania, Tunisia, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda Kenya, Zambia, Comoros

Community-BasedMulticomponent Initiatives:Cape Verde, Western Sahara, Algeria, Mali, Niger, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Guinea, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe

School Policies and Culture:Tunisia, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria, Rwanda, Malawi, Comoros

Alcohol and Tobacco Policies:Tunisia, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Burundi, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mauritius

Addressing Individual Vulnerabilities:Cape Verde, Niger, Ethiopia, Benin, Gabon, Kenya

Early Childhood Education:Western Sahara, Mali, Liberia, Ghana, Burundi, Gabon, DRC, Mauritius, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe

Parenting Skills:Cape Verde, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa, Mauritius

Personal and Social Skills and Social Influences Education:Cape Verde, Western, Sahara, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Liberia, Ghana, Uganda

Drug Demand Reduction

Continues on page 12

Drug News Africa

12

Key Needs of African States

Conduct Survey in a Specific Sub-group:Western Sahara, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Namibia, Botswana

Conduct an Outcome Evaluation:Cape Verde, Algeria, Tunisia, Niger, Nigeria, DRC, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi, Mauritius

Research

Level

Conduct National Drug Use Survey:Burkina Faso, Niger, Eritrea, Guinea, Liberia, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, DRC, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Comoros, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa

Establish a National or Regional Drug Observatory:Cape Verde, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Uganda Kenya, Mauritius

Conduct Rapid Assessment Survey:Western Sahara, Tunisia, Mali, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Rwanda, Burundi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Comoros, South Africa

Identify Treatment Capacity:Togo, Benin, Gabon, Eritrea, Zimbabwe

Standards for Drug Prevention:Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Namibia, Botswana, Comoros, Mauritius

Standards for Drug Treatment:Algeria, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, DRC, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi S

trategic L

evel

Master Plan forDrug Demand Reduction:Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, Ghana, Gabon, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi, Mauritius

Laws and Regulations:Tunisia, Niger, Guinea, Benin, Nigeria, DRC, Burundi, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia

Establish Stakeholders Group:Western Sahara, Eritrea, Liberia, Gabon, South Africa

Continued from Page 11

Table 1 Subregions with high prevalence of cannabis use

AreaAnnual

prevalence(percentage)

Estimated number

World 3.8 170, 070, 000

West and Central Africa 12.4 27, 260, 000

Oceania 10.9 2, 630, 000

North America 10.8 32, 950, 000

Western and Central Europe 6.9 22, 530, 000

Table 3 Number of drug users, prevalence of drug use, number of drug-related deaths and mortality rate per million inhabitants aged 15-64

Region Number of drug users (thousands)1

Prevalence of drug use

(percentage)

Number of drug-ralt-ed deaths2

Mortality rate per million inhabitants aged

15 - 64

Africa 22, 000 - 72, 000 3.8 - 12.5 13, 000 - 41, 700 22.9 -7 3.5

North America 45, 000 - 46, 000 14.7 - 15.1 44, 800 147.3

South America 10, 000 - 13, 000 3.2 - 4.2 3, 800 - 9, 700 12.2 - 31.1

Asia 38, 000 - 127, 000 1.4 - 4.6 14, 900 - 133, 700 5.4 - 48.6

Europe 36, 000 - 37, 000 6.4 - 6.8 19, 900 35.8

Oceania 3, 000 - 5, 000 12.3 - 20.1 3, 000 123.0

World total 153,000 - 300,000 3.4-6.6 99, 000 - 253, 000 22.0 - 55.9

Source: World Drug Report 2012 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.1.2.XI.1).

Continental Experts Consultation to Identify Priority Programs

and Interventions for Improving Drug Demand Reduction Efforts

in Africa, Kampala, Uganda - February 18 - 21, 2013

Volume 3, Issue 2 December, 2013

13

The Asian Centre for Education and Certification of Addiction Professionals

Dr. Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, ECOWAS Commission Director (Gender Youth/ Sports, Civil Society, Employment and Drug Control)

The DAP provides a variety of treat-ment, rehabilitation and aftercare services, and technical and capac-ity building in five areas; Treatment Facilities for Drug Dependents, Outpatient Drug Treatment Centres, Village-based Treatment Facilities for Drug Dependents, Outreach/Drop in Centres, and Vocational Rehabilitation.

The organization runs short-term regional training courses in varied thematic areas in the field of drugs. The ACCE works towards training, professionalizing and expanding the regional treatment workforce

ciated with health problems, poverty, violence, criminal behavior and social exclusion.

Law enforcement effor ts to stop or reduce production and trafficking of illicit drugs (supply reduction) have not been as effective because they largely excluded prevention of drug use and treatment of drug dependence (demand reduction).

The ECOWAS long identified the menace caused by illicit drugs and in 2008 the bloc’s Heads of State and Government came up with a policy centred on a concrete action plan encompassing a balanced approach for countering both supply and demand elements

Term Scholarships. The Drug Advisory Programme

(DAP) was star ted in 1973 in response to multi-faceted problems from illicit drug production to trafficking and abuse. The DAP has innovative strat-egies in six arms; Treatment and Rehabilitation Network, Prevention Network, Youth Network, Publications, Training and Education, and the Asian Centre for Certification and Education of Addiction Professionals (ACCE).

Its prevention network addresses needs of communities by collaborat-ing with other agencies and adopting comprehensive preventive strategies namely; Preventive Drug Education, Mosque-based Programme, Anti-drug Coalitions in Communities, and Mobile Public Awareness and Drug Prevention Exhibitions.

base for policy makers from ECOWAS to address social, health and economic consequences of alcohol and drug abuse through establishment of local sentinel surveillance networks in countries of the regional block.

The network is expected to contribute

to identifying changes in drug abuse patterns and emerging trends so that new and adequate responses can be established.

Illicit drug trafficking and consump-tion has been on the rise in West Africa. There is realization in the region that drug abuse and depen-dence are a public health, develop-mental and security problem asso-

The Colombo Plan is one of the oldest regional inter-governmental organizations in

Asia-Pacific region. Formed in 1951 by seven Commonwealth countries, its membership has risen to 27 and is open to countries from any part of the world including African states. The Colombo Plan runs Four permanent programmes namely, Drug Advisory, Public Administration and Environment, Private Sector Development and Long

The Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) is in the process of

establishing a comprehensive West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU). THE WENDU is aimed at improving the information

For more information, contact Mr Tay Bian How, Director, Asian Centre for Education and Certification of Addiction Professionals (ACCE) on Web: www.colombo-plan.org or email: c/o : gayathri.gamage@colomboplan.org

For more information please contact Dr. Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, ECOWAS Commission Director (Gender Youth/ Sports, Civil Society, Employment and Drug Control on email: Sintiki.ugbe@gmail.com

The West African Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (WENDU)

Drug News Africa

14

SADC Regional Programme on Drug Control 2011, as well as carrying out advocacy at AU, SADC, EAC, IOC and national levels to mainstream drug control matters in national poli-cies and strategies.

UNODC has supported a number of national integrated programmes such as in Ethiopia and other country level programmes that include devel-opment of Drug Control Master Plans, National Drug Information Network in Southern and Eastern Africa in part-nership with SADC and MRC in South Africa.

In addition, the organisation has established Expert Networks, three Networks in East, West and North Africa, and the TREATNET programme. Country level support includes refining national policies and strategies, improving national capac-ities and expertise in drug demand treatment, and infusing drug treatment in core university curricula.

UNODC has identified some best

Department of State, at a continental meeting on Drug Demand Reduction held in Kampala, Uganda, 19-21 February 2013.

In addition, INL was seeking US Congress approval for a fur ther US$1.6 million to fight drugs with a goal to support 14 to 20 African states.

Drug treatment and prevention has so often been discussed tangentially to supply reduction. There has been too much concentration on drug traf-ficking, interdiction, supply reduction and little on demand reduction.

The meeting, attended by dele-gates from 38 AU Member States was organised by the African Union Commission’s Department of Social Affairs in collaboration with INL,

practices that include strong politi-cal will, establishment of dedicated national coordinating bodies for opti-mal use of resources, monitoring and evaluation, development of national guidelines for drug dependence treat-ment in countries such as in Kenya and Tanzania, adequate budgetary provision and allocation, collection and analysis of strategic information, relying on evidence-informed high-vol-ume and low-threshold interventions, and scaling -up services for measur-able impact

the United Nations African Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFRI) and the Colombo Plan.

It was part of activities to strengthen capacity of Continental, regional and national institutions for drug control, in line with a recently crafted African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control (2013 -2017). The consultation was meant to identify priority programmes and intervention for improving access to comprehensive, evidence-informed, ethical and human rights based drug use prevention, dependence, treat-ment and aftercare services

UNODC drug demand reduction work in Africa covers policy and advocacy, regional

and national strategies programme development, strategic Information and research, capacity building in drug dependence treatment, and drug dependence treatment in prisons.

In this regard, UNODC partici-pated in development of AU Plan of Action on Drug Control (2013-2017), the Regional Programme “Promoting Rule of Law and Human Security in Eastern Africa” endorsed in 2009,

The US State Department has committed USD3.4 million for various programmes to combat

illicit drugs in Africa. This was revealed by Mr. Brian

Morales, Foreign Affairs Officer, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), US

For more details, contact Dr. Reychad Abdool, Senior Regional HIV Advisor, UNODC Nairobi on email: reychad.abdool@undoc.org

For more information please contact Brian Morales on : MoralesBA@state.gov

UNODC Drug Demand Reduction Work in AfricaUNODC participated in development of AU Plan of Action on Drug Control (2013-2017), the Regional Programme “Promoting Rule of Law and Human Security in Eastern Africa”

to Fight Illicit Drugs in Africa

Injecting drug use is widely responsible for increase in HIV/AIDS

among drug users in Africa

US Commits $3.4 Million

15

African Group Position

reaffirms commitment to effective implementation of the existing three international Conventions on Drug Control, and recalls the adoption in 2009 of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action on Inter-national Cooperation towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem.

looks forward to organization of the High level review of implementation of the Political Declaration and Plan of Action next year during the 57th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).

is concerned by emerging trends of some parts of the continent as transit areas for trafficking of narcot-ics, especially cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine through inter-alia transatlantic illicit flight.

is also concerned by increasing use of the Continent as a cross-road for all trafficked drug precur-sors. This has created many security challenges, including organized crime…that undermine effor ts to achieve Millennium Development Goals.

salutes effor ts by African countries, despite economic constraints, in combating the drug problem, through inter alia, reducing the drug crop cultivation and production, and by strengthening law en-forcement seizure capacities. In this regard, the Group highlights the importance of a comprehensive, balanced and coordinated approach that takes into account all aspects of drug trafficking in addressing the world drug problem.

reiterates its concern regarding health problems associated with abuse of drugs, and reaffirms com-mitment to work towards improvement of access to comprehensive prevention programmes including awareness raising, treatment and rehabilitation.

stresses the importance of effective international and regional cooperation in exchange of information, mutual legal assistance and extradition to tackle problems faced by countries affected by the illicit trafficking, transit and abuse of drugs, in accordance to the principle of shared responsibility as well as pertinent provisions of the Political Declaration and the Plan of Action.

reaffirms the need for a balanced approach between drug demand and supply reduction.

attaches importance to integral and sustainable alternative development and preventive alternative de-velopment, as, inter-alia, a means to curb the world drug problem.

underscores the importance of strengthening capacities of African countries affected by illicit cultivation of drugs and by drug problems in general, and providing them with appropriate technical assistance, in the framework of common and shared responsibility, in accordance with national priorities.

reiterates need for provision of adequate technical assistance in data collection for monitoring drug abuse and the collection of sufficient data on the extent and patterns of drug abuse as well as to carry out accurate assessment of prevalence rates.

Furthermore, technical assistance is needed to build and enhance capacities in the areas of forensic, law enforcement and judiciary systems aimed at supporting the effor ts of the African Countries to pre-vent and combat the world drug problem.

at 56th CND SessionKey highlights of a statement by the African Group at the 56th Session of the Commission on Nar-cotic Drugs (11-15 March 2013) delivered by H.E Ambassador Khaled Abderahman Shama, Perma-nent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The African Group

Drug News Africa

16

© 2013. All rights reserved. Articles in this newsletter may

be reproduced with due acknowledgement of the source.

Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily

represent those of the African Union Commission.

Drug News Africa is a publication of the African

Union Commission’s Department of Social Affairs

in collaboration with the Directorate of Information

and Communication. The Department of Social

Affairs headed by the Commissioner for Social

Affairs, His Excellency Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko,

runs seven Divisions in addition to specialized

agencies all dedicated towards initiating, planning,

coordinating, harmonizing and monitoring accelerated

and sustained continental policies, programmes and

projects that promote human development, social

justice and the wellbeing of Africans.

DrugNews Africa is produced under the leadership

of the African Union Plan of Action on Drug Control

(2013-2017) supervised by the Division of Social

Welfare, Vulnerable Groups, and Drug Control. It is

published through support of the European Union and

the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. For

this issue we are greatly indebted to the West Africa

Commission on Narcotic Drugs (WACD), Bureau for

International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

(INL), US Department of State, The Colombo Plan

and the United Nations Institute for the Prevention of

Crime and the Treatment of Offenders for assistance

with some editorial content.

Feedback and contributions are welcome from all stakeholders and in particular African Member states. Please note that contributed articles

should not exceed 1200 words.

Editor

Abel Basutu

Layout & DesignMarsden Momanyi

Editorial Board Olawale Maiyegun (PhD)Dr. Johan Strijdom (PhD)Jane-Marie Ong’oloEsther Azza TankouMarsden MomanyiTigist ZelalemWurie BahAbel Basutu

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Drug News Africa

26 Die in Sierra Leone After Drinking Homemade Alcohol

“It also saddened FDID-SL to simi-larly observe burial rites of ten young people of New London in Bo who lost their lives through the intake of badly produced alcoholic drinks. These 26 youths were in the prime of their life and would have contributed immensely to development of the nation,” said FDID-SL in a statement.

Life expectancy in Sierra Leone is 48 years according to the 2013 United Nations Human Development Index Report.

“This is no good news comparing this to other nations where life expec-tancy stands at 80 years…the uncon-trolled production and importation of poorly brewed alcohol into our market is partly responsible for the low life expectancy,” said FDID-SL.

The organization appealed to young people to refrain from alcohol and drug abuse to safeguard their future. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime World Drug Report 2011 noted that West Africans had become some of the heaviest users of illicit drugs in the world while alco-hol abuse was also on the rise

Abatch of illegally distilled homemade alcoholic concoction killed 26 youths

in Sierra Leone, according to a Sierra-Leone based civil society organization.

The organization working with urban youths associated with drug and alcohol abuse in Freetown, Bo and Moyamba is now lobbying Government to tighten rules and regulations on production and impor-tation of alcoholic drinks to protect vulnerable groups such as youths.

The Foundation for Democratic Initiatives and Development in Sierra Leone (FDID-SL), is disturbed by the spate of deaths of young people due to consumption of improperly brewed alcohols that have proliferated in the market with little or no inspection from the country’s Standard Bureau or the Consumer Protection Agency.

“It is with a heavy heart that FDID-SL observed the funeral rites of 16 youths of Sewa Grounds who lost their lives through consumption of the poorly brewed alcohol.

Freetown, Sierra Leone

2013

2014

The AU has commissioned a comprehensive study of socio-economic and Security challenges of drug trafficking and related organised crime in Africa with initial focus on West Africa and the Sahel region;

Continental experts meeting on drug demand reduction for national focal points, March 2014, in Johannesburg, South Africa;

Continental technical experts meeting to finalize model laws, May 2014, venue to be advised;

Sixth conference of Ministers of the African Union in charge of drug control, October 2014, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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