Families of drug users are being encouraged to seek counselling through the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) to learn ways to help their loved ones break the habit.
Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Wilfred Abrahams, made this call as he addressed a dedication ceremony of the Training Room and Life Skills Centre and the Ishmael and Margaret Counselling Rooms, in honour of the late Ishmael “Jim” Morris, and the late Margaret Durant, both former NCSA employees.
“We often see the challenges with the persons who are suffering from substance abuse, and quite often the focus is on them. How do we deal with them; how do we treat them; if they are in prison, how do we rehabilitate them?
“Very often society does not turn and look around at the living hell family members of the persons who are substance abusers go through. The children who might be abused; the spouses who are trying to hold a family and a marriage together; the parents who are watching their children spiral out of control, and can’t even manage to pull them back,” Mr. Abrahams pointed out.
However, he sent the message that the NCSA also caters to families in treating drug abuse, and used a “whole of family” and “whole of person” approach.
“Let families know they can approach the NCSA. If you do not know how to deal with somebody who is a drug abuser, come to the NCSA and we can help you know how to approach them…, how to encourage them to seek assistance for themselves…,” the Minister stated.
Mr. Abrahams also spoke to the importance of developing life skills to live happy and successful lives. He explained that the development of life skills must not only be for the persons who came forward because they have challenges due to substance use or abuse, but must also extend to those who have not yet gotten there, to ensure they never get there at all.
While commending the NCSA staff for the work they were doing, Mr. Abrahams also implored them to utilise all available means to sensitise persons about their services, while highlighting the successful stories and the negative outcomes.
He noted that the two former employees, the late Margaret Durant, former Office Assistant, and the late Ishmael “Jim” Morris, the first Deputy Manager at the NCSA, both possessed the ability to care for and help those in need.
NCSA Chairman, Hadford Howell, noted that the two rooms would be available for use by public and private sector entities. The ceremony was witnessed by families of the departed employees, members of the NCSA staff, and the Board of Management.