Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697649087019.pdf (Bahamas)
Standardized Data Collection System for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Facilities.
Drug Treatment in The Bahamas Pernell Clarke Research Specialist, Inter-American Observatory on Drugs (OID) July 20, 2017 Nassau, The Bahamas Objectives To present an overview of the Regional Treatment Data System To present results from all countries for the 2016 cycle of data collection To present 2016 results from The Bahamas Rationale Drug users are often difficult to reach Treatment facilities provide an opportunity to observe what would otherwise be a ‘hidden’ problem 3 Drug Treatment data – Importance Information about the number and characteristics of drug users who seek help and the treatment they receive is valuable for several reasons: • Planning • Management • Needs Assessment • Provide Epidemiological Indicators of drug problems • Inform and develop drug policy 4 The Standardized Treatment Data Protocol (TDP) - Objective The objective of the TDP is to collect information on persons seeking treatment in all of our member states in a standardized way.
This allows us to: • Build a profile of the demographic characteristics, drug using behaviors, and treatment history, of these persons.

• Establish trends • Identify risk factors for problematic drug use.
5 Implementation Treatment Center Agency Level Hard Copies or Epi Info Local Coordinating Agency National Level Epi Info CICAD Regional Level 6 RESULTS 7 REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS-2016 COUNTRY Percent Frequency BELIZE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA SAINT LUCIA HAÏTI GUYANA GRENADA JAMAICA BAHAMAS SURINAME BARBADOS TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 1% 1% 4% 4.65% 4.98% 6.55% 8.52% 8.98% 15.14% 15.73% 29.49% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 17 19 55 71 76 100 130 137 231 240 450 Total 100.00% 1526 2016 TREATMENT CASES BY COUNTRY 29.49% 15.14%15.73% 8.52% 8.98% 6.55% 4.65% 4.98% 4% 1% 1% 8 DEMOGRAPHICS – SEX Regional Data Bahamas Data 9.96% 10.95% 90.04% 89.05% FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE 9 DEMOGRAPHICS- Age Range REGIONAL DATA BAHAMAS DATA 24% 25% 21% 19% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 11% 10--19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50 AND OLDER 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% 35.77% 27.01% 19.71% 16.06% 1.46% 10--19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50 AND OLDER REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS- Ethnicity 60.2% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 16.7% 14.6% 10.0% 0.0% ETHNICITY OF PERSONS SEEKING TREATMENT In Bahamas 93% of persons seeking treatment were of African origin/ Black 2.1% 1.3% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1% 0.9% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% 11 Regional -living Arrangements LIVING ARRANGEMENTS 30 DAYS PRIOR TO SEEKING TREATMENT 47% of persons seeking treatment in the Bahamas lived in their family home.
14.81% 9.90% 10.09% 6.09% 1.64% 0.13% 1.38% 1.90% 1.05% 53.01% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% DEMOGRAPHICS-Level of Education REGIONAL DATA 31.2% 30.9% 12.3% 6.0% 4.9% 3.3% 2.2% 0.1% 0.3% 35.0% 30.0% 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 8.9% 5.0% 0.0% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% BAHAMAS DATA 58% 18% 13% 8% 1% 1% 1% Demographics –Employment Status REGIONAL DATA BAHAMAS DATA COUNTRY BREAKDOWN DEMOGRAPHICS – Employment Status 80.00% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% BAHAMAS BARBADOS BELIZE GRENADA GUYANA HAÏTI JAMAICA SAINT LUCIA SURINAME ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA HOMEMAKER/HOUSEWIFE NO RESPONSE NOT WORKING OTHER NOT WORKING/ RETIRED (retiree, disabled) NOT WORKING/STUDENT UNEMPLOYED (looking for work) WORKING AND STUDYING WORKING/SELF-EMPLOYED TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 15 Treatment History – Source of Referral REGIONAL DATA 33.55% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% 19.07% 13.17% 10.09% 5.18% 4.85% 3.74% 3.54% 2.82% 2.23% 1.44% 0.33% Treatment History – Source of Referral BAHAMAS DATA 31.39% 27.74% 18.25% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% 8.03% 5.84% 2.92% 2.92% 1.46% 0.73% TREATMENT 18 Main Substance Impacting Treatment REGIONAL DATA BAHAMAS DATA 34.60% 32.04% 25.75% 5.37% 0.66%1.05% 0.13%0.13%0.07%0.07%0.07%0.07% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 46% 37% 9% 8% MARIJUANA ALCOHOL COCAINE (powder) CRACK TYPE OF TREATMENT PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED REGIONAL DATA BAHAMAS DATA (N=703) 20.48% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 8.82% 5.00% 0.00% 1.14% 0.43% 0.14% 5.69% 5.83% 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% (N=107) 46% 22% 9% 2% 1% 3% 18% 20 CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERACTION AND MENTAL HEALTH ARREST HISTORY -LIFETIME 53.00% 52.00% 51.00% 50.00% 49.00% 48.00% 47.00% 46.00% 45.00% 44.00% REGIONAL DATA 52.56% BAHAMAS DATA 62.77% 37.23% 47.44% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% NO
 YES NO YES 22 ARREST HISTORY -PAST YEAR REGIONAL DATA BAHAMAS DATA 52.94% 43.14% 60.50% 39.23% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% (N=724) 0.28% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% (N=51) 3.92% NO YES MISSING NO YES MISSING 23 DIAGNOSED PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER REGIONAL DATA BAHAMAS DATA 80.00% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% 73.26% 22.61% 4.13% NO YES NO RESPONSE 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 76% 11% 13% NO YES NO RESPONSE 24 Conclusions from 2016 Regional Data The main substance impacting treatment across the region is marijuana (35%), followed by Alcohol (32%) and crack (25%).
Heroin use was only reported in 2 countries on a very small scale: Suriname and Haiti.

Of the 1526 persons seeking treatment across the region, 10% were female.

Most persons who were seeking treatment for problematic marijuana use, indicated that they started using that substance between 10-19 years old (77%) with 5% stating that they started between 01-09 years old.

This is important information for the planning and implementing of prevention programs.
46% of persons seeking treatment indicated that they were previously registered into a treatment program, & 34% had completed that treatment program.

Most are encouraged to seek treatment by families and friends (34%).

47% of persons seeking treatment across the region indicated that they were arrested at least once in their lifetime 23% indicated that they were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.
25 THE BAHAMAS Results from 2017 Household Survey & 2016 Treatment Studies 26 Results from 2017 Household Survey & 2016 Treatment Study -MARIJUANA Household Survey Treatment • • 13% of population have smoked marijuana at least once in their lifetime.

– 7% females 3% are current marijuana smokers.
– 1% females • 46% of the 2016 treatment population were there for problematic marijuana use (N=137) – 11% females • Average age of first use: 19 years • Average age of first use: 17 years • • 7% indicated that they tried to stop using marijuana without success 14% of marijuana users indicated that their family and friends advised them to reduce use • • 40% were referred to treatment by a general health care center 37% were encouraged to seek treatment by their family and friends.
27 Results from 2017 Household Survey & 2016 Treatment Study -ALCOHOL Household Survey Treatment • • 74% of population have drunk alcohol at least once in their lifetime (N=2,533) – 71% females 43% are currently consume alcohol – 34% females • 37% of the treatment population were there for problematic Alcohol use (N=137) – 10% females • Average age of first use: 18 years • Average age of first use: 20 years • • 3% of men and 2% of women have indicated that they were unable to stop drinking once they have started 7% of alcohol users indicated that friends or doctors were concerned about their drinking • • 21% were encouraged to seek treatment by their family and friends.
14% were referred via the general health care system 28 Results from 2017 Household Survey Demand for Treatment 2% of substance users indicated they felt they needed treatment for their past year substance use Another 2% received treatment at least once in their lifetime for problematic substance use.
1/3 of this group was treated within the past year: 9% for alcohol 66% other drugs 19% for both 29 Results from 2017 Household Survey Reasons for not Seeking Treatment – Not ready to stop using (most popular) – Don’t know where to get treatment – No transportation – Could not afford – Negative effect on job 30 CONCLUSIONS For 2016, 4 treatment facilities in The Bahamas submitted data to CICAD.

137 persons reported to these centers for treatment.

11% were female.
11% were female.

the mean age of persons in treatment was 41.5 years old with the youngest person in treatment being 18 years old and the oldest being 71 years old.

The majority of persons were 50 years and older (36%) The main substance driving the demand for treatment was Marijuana (46%), followed by alcohol (37%).

Most persons were encouraged to seek treatment by family and friends (31%), followed by a general health care professional (28%), employer (8%).

18% entered treatment voluntarily.


31 CONCLUSIONS Of those in treatment, 22% were first time treatment seekers.

Looking at the level of interaction with the criminal justice system and the treatment population, we have observed that 51 of the 137 persons were arrested at least once in their lifetime.

Of those 51 persons, 22 were arrested at least once in 2016.
In assessing the mental health of persons in treatment for problematic substance use, it was discovered that 11% were diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.

Most persons were placed into detox facility after their assessment.

32 Thank you for your attention pclarke@oas.org tbarry@oas.org http://www.cicad.oas.org 33