DESPITE SOME “frightening” trends, Barbados is far from losing the fight against illegal drugs.
Director at the Substance Abuse Foundation, Pauline Tully, said Verdun House, a foundation project, was reaping success.
“What is frightening is that there is a decrease in the age of our clients who are becoming addicted plus we are noticing a rise in women becoming addicted. The world is changing; there are so many different cocktails but we have a great success rate and we are going from strength to strength,” she said.
Tully was speaking at a Press briefing for the 2015 Diamonds International annual charity golf tournament which will be held at Royal Westmoreland Golf Club on February 4. The briefing took place in the Royal Westmoreland clubhouse conference room.
To help deal with the rising female addicts, the foundation is currently overseeing the building of a female facility called Marina House in Newcastle, St John. The funds were sourced from the Maria Holder Trust and refurbishment is expected to be completed in August.
Figures for Verdun House taken as of the end of 2013 state 759 people were admitted to Verdun House while the total admissions breakdown, which includes readmissions, are as follows: 720 admissions for crack cocaine; 161 for alcohol and 154 for marijuana. There are no figures for gambling and other addictions. (CA)
