Strong Monitoring And Evaluation Of Drug Strategies

The Government is seeking to develop a strong monitoring and evaluation framework for national drug policies, strategies and plans, to prevent illicit drugs from entering the country.

Executive Director of the National Council on Drug Abuse, Michael Tucker, said with the emergence of new psychoactive drugs and substances, it is critical that these mechanisms be put in place to enhance this framework.

“There is also the intensified and more organised drug-related crimes and signs of increase among drug users. We, therefore, require all hands on board to develop the relevant drug strategies that will address this multifaceted issue,” he said.

Mr. Tucker was addressing the opening ceremony of the Organization of American States (OAS): Inter American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) training workshop on monitoring, and evaluation of national drug policies, strategies and plans, on June 15, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

“Not only do we need to have these strategies developed and adopted but our capacity to monitor and evaluate them is equally essential. This training is, therefore, timely and relevant for all of us,” he said.

Mr. Tucker argued that monitoring and evaluation are essential for effective policymaking, as well as it helps to ensure that policies and strategies have the desired impact.

“We need to ask, how do we know that we are doing the right things at the right time, among the right target groups,” he said.

Evaluation can contribute to better planning of policies and services, efficient resource allocation, organisational learning, and transparency and accountability.

Demand reduction activities are implemented by the National Council on Drug Abuse with support from the Ministry of Education and Youth, law-enforcement agencies, and various treatment and rehabilitation partners, both public and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).