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Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 22, 2017 (SKNIS): Communities across the world face addiction problems. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Florida, London, or St. Kitts, there will be people around you fighting a silent battle against addiction. The way the communities and governments rally around these addiction issues has a very lasting effect on the crisis. If addicts are met with punishment, the issue is more likely to grow. If it’s met with support, it’s more likely to help people. Newrish Nital, Drug Prevention Officer at the St. Kitts-Nevis National Council for Drug Prevention Secretariat, spoke on the correlation between the use of drugs and the increase in crime in society on the Government’s weekly programme, “Working for You” on November 22.

“Recidivism would not be so high if it weren’t for the consumption, misuse and abuse of drugs,” said Mr. Nital while explaining that residents at Her Majesty’s Prison are often under the influence of drugs when they are admitted to the institution and at the time of conviction.

He highlighted that it is important for rehabilitation programmes to be implemented in and outside of the prison to counsel and educate persons convicted of crimes on the detrimental effects of drug abuse. He said that persons who are incarcerated often are released from prison without going through any rehabilitation, which leads them back into drug use and ultimately recidivism. He also noted that education on the effects of drug abuse leading to a life of crime should begin in the schools to prevent the youth from possibly ending up in a life of anti-social behaviours. Rehab centers similar to The Holistic Sanctuary – you can have a peek here – try their best to offer aid and support for those who are affected by drug and alcohol abuse. It is important that they are able to get the help they require so they don’t relapse into previous behaviour.

Mr. Nital said that the fight against drug abuse has to be a collaborative effort among different stakeholders in the community because the effects are felt full circle. He stated that “if we do not exercise the duties in trying to curb the misuse and abuse of drugs, we will have a void.”

He explained that the use of drugs may start as a hobby and then lead to an addiction and ultimately committing crimes to feed one’s addictions. Some of these crimes are violence and robbery related. Local rehab centers will also benefit from drug use prevention as they wouldn’t be so busy as there are lots of people who need help.

“I am convinced that there are a lot of persons who utilise marijuana or [other] drugs and do not work and if you do not work and you are trying to get the utility out of a good or service then you have to find some way to get it and this is where our crime rate will be impacted,” he added.

Mr. Nital said that it is an “integral part of our society” to ensure that there is a policy on drugs to have a reference point for handling cases of misuse and abuse of drugs