The National Commission on the Abuse of Drugs, Alcohol and Other Dependencies within the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity (MFSS) has been active since 1999, when it superseded the previous Commission. It was then reformulated to consist of experts from the dependency field, primarily to advise the Minister on policy in this area. The experts serving on the Commission hail from a variety of disciplines, including education, psychiatry, psychology, social sciences, law and law enforcement and

neuroscience.

The launch of the draft National Drugs Policy today is consummate with the Commission’s remit but to arrive at this point it was necessary in the first instance to have in place an understanding of the state of the drug problem here in Malta and the responses to the problem in question.

This latter objective has been achieved through the conducting of two EU Twinning Projects that have given rise to the National Focal Point for Drugs and Drug Addiction (NFP) also based within the MFSS and managed by the Commission. The two EU Twinning projects in 2004 and 2005 set up the NFP and provided the tools through which to collect and collate information on a national level. In addition, today also sees the launch of the latest national annual report on the state of the drug problem and the responses to it. The three reports released to date, 2004, 2005 and 2006, are testimony to the success of the two EU Twinning projects.

Thus, the launch of this first draft National Drugs Policy for public consultation is the fruit of many years of preparation that have provided the necessary background through which such a document could have been prepared. It is what has come to be known as evidence-based, in that it is not the product of single perceptions of any individual but based on the co-operation and understanding of many of those working in the field who have worked hard to put in place methodologies based on sound scientific principles through which it is possible to collect valid information on the drug problem per se.

An example of the use of such methodology relates to the number of problem drug users, that is the number of daily heroin users. All treatment agencies in Malta and Gozo work together in what is known as the treatment network under the NFP and have been able to put together the necessary information that provides a picture of all those seeking treatment. From this data, it is then possible, by using mathematical modelling, to get a good estimate of the number of problem drug users. This information is useful for the agencies themselves in planning their own treatment services but also provides valid information for drawing up any drugs policy document such as the one launched today.

In addition, it must also be emphasised that this first draft National Drugs Policy document has been drawn up with cognisance of the EU Drug Strategy 2005-2012 and also the UNGASS resolution passed in 1998. It is also the result of the close collaboration between the Commission and the Policy Development and Programme Implement-ation Directorate within the MFSS and other salient members of the said Ministry, and for such we are most grateful.

The draft document is divided into nine sections and contains 47 actions to be achieved that directly focus on the heart of the problem. The policy opens with an introduction that lays down the scope of the policy as well as the context, that is the current drug situation here in Malta, and against this backdrop concludes with the primary objectives, that of ensuring a high level of security for the general public and a high level of health protection, well being and social cohesion. Eight policy targets conclude this section, two of which are of the highest priority – a reduction in the availability of illicit drugs and a reduction in the use of such illicit drugs.

Following on from the introduction, the second section provides information on the institutional structures that deal with issues related to drug use, as it is not at always apparent what these are and what they do. Coordination of the National Drugs Policy is pivotal if such is going to succeed and in this section Government is proposing that the MFSS hosts a new unit, namely a National Coordinating Unit for Drugs and Alcohol to ensure that this policy is implemented and monitored in the correct manner.

The third section introduces the “Legal and Judicial Framework” through which drug issues are currently framed. It also provides for the setting up of a Drugs Court that may streamline drug offence cases.

Section 4 deals with what is termed as “Supply Reduction” and the structures that have the main task of reducing the street availability of illicit drugs. In this section it is put forward that a National Law Enforcement Body be set up to strengthen cooperation between the law enforcement bodies in their daily work to reduce street availability.

In addition to the availability of drugs, this implies that there is a demand for them. Thus Section 5 deals with measures and actions related to “Demand Reduction”. Moreover, this section contains by far the most actions, nearly half those to be found in the document, as it concerns actions to prevent drug use in the first place, actions to reduce drug use in those who have started and, for those who have succumbed, actions to ameliorate their addiction. In an endeavour to consolidate the efforts aimed at treatment of those who use drugs and those addicted to drugs, a Central Intake Unit is to come into being.

It is tantamount that while implementing this policy it is also continually monitored and all the actions evaluated as well as ongoing research of the situation and the dissemination of information resulting from such efforts are taken into account and in this vein section 6, “Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Information and Training” provides the basis for such. Consequently, the National Focal Point for Drugs and Drug Addiction will be incorporated into the new National Coordinating Unit for Drugs and Alcohol to enable it to do just that.

Section 7, “The International Perspective”, provides actions that enable Malta to continue fulfilling its international obligations, namely those that relate to the UN, the EU and the Pompidou Group, Council of Europe.

All this would not be possible without the necessary “Funding” as provided through the Ministry of Finance, where it will endeavour to allocate more funds to drug-related programmes and initiatives by supplementing current funding provisions with monies derived from assets confiscated under The Prevention of Money Laundering Act in relation to drug-related offences.

It is now important that the public consultation process starts in earnest. A consultation meeting is scheduled for 29 August, during which any issues on this draft policy will be clarified, with the forethought that the closing date for the submission of feedback, suggestions and recommendations is Friday, 14 September 2007.

The document in question may be found on the MFSS website www.mfss.gov.mt and submissions may be sent via email to [email protected] or to the Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity, Palazzo Ferreria, 310 Republic Street, Valletta, VLT 2000.

Note: The members of the National Commission on the Abuse of Drugs, Alcohol and Other Dependencies are: Professor Richard Muscat (Neuroscientist; Chairman), Ms Joyce Callus (Education), Ms Joan Camilleri (Psychologist), Mr Paul Debattista (Law Enforcement), Dr Anton Grech (Psychiatrist), Dr Maya Miljanic Brinkworth (Social Scientist), Dr Stephen Tonna-Lowell (Lawyer) and Dr Maria Sciriha (MFSS – Secretary).

The National Focal Point for Drugs and Drug Addiction is headed by Ms Anna Girard. Logistical support is provided by Ms Paula Herbert.