The administration of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is in the process of developing a comprehensive programme to respond to substance abuse and other negative social issues.
And several Officers and Other Ranks of various Units recently participated in a seminar on Substance Abuse and Associated Recommended Treatment at the auditorium at Base Camp Ayanganna, the GDF stated in a press release yesterday.
The seminar was conducted by Coordinator of the Phoenix Recovery Project, Clarence Young and is part of a programme in which a series of interactive sessions are organised by the Army to address current social issues affecting the society at large.
In his discussion with the participants, according to the release, Young outlined several facts and negative consequences which characterise the phenomenon of substance abuse.
This, he contended, resulted in very high and burdensome costs to the society. He pointed to examples such as the incarceration of offenders, broken homes, domestic violence and lack of access to education for youths.
During the interactive session, substances such as marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, pain-killers and other prescription drugs were identified as most commonly abused by people.
Young also explained that although addiction was a disease, it can be treated. The substance abuser becomes addicted and is affected on three levels – biological, psychological and social.
Each level has specific signs of manifestation which range from a person’s physical deterioration to severe mood swings, argumentation, suicidal tendencies, mental illness, breakdown in relationships, distortion of usual patterns of behaviour, sudden changes in language use and the desire to be alone.
These signs, he noted, could alert persons to the fact that their loved ones may be abusing substances.
Young emphasized that abuse was learned behaviour and is perpetuated through cultural acceptance, goaded on by peer pressure. He pointed out, however, that treatment which is available through various organisations like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) can positively impact the lives of persons caught up in the cycle of substance abuse.
In addition to AA and NA which have local chapters, there are two residential treatment programmes being administered by the Phoenix Recovery Project at Mon Repos and the Salvation Army. The Structured Relapse Prevention Pro-gramme, a Ministry of Health initiative, has also been launched to help militate against substance abuse and its impacts in society and it is to become operational in five communities across Guyana, the release added.