Who We Are

The National Drug Unit carries out activities relating to treatment, rehabilitation, public awareness, school programmes, outreach programmes, one on one counseling, couples counseling, along with weekly support groups.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Turks and Caicos Islands National Drug Council is to reduce the demand and supply for illicit drugs, alcohol and other substances of abuse through an integrated approach by Government Ministries, Departments, Non - Governmental Agenciesand Community Stakeholders in accordance with the National Anit-Drug Strategy.

Overview of Illicit Drug Problems in the TCI

Cultivation and Producation: Because water is a precious commodity, and the salinity of the soil, farming is difficult. Hence, marijuana, coca or opium poppy cultivation is not considered a major problem in TCI. Illicit Trafficiking: The transshipment and trafficking of illicit drugs have been prevalent since the 1970's. The location of TCI, the main air and marine routes between points of production in South America and markets in North America, fragmented surveillance defying topography, and limited law enforcement capability renders TCI highly vulnerable to the activities of organized narco-traffickers. Proximity to the Bahamas and close cultural and economic ties also compounds the situation.

Unil the mid-1980's, drug abuse was not considered a problem in TCI, until a full-blown free base cocaine epidemic peaked. Today, TCI has a severe and persistent drug problem with cocaine and marijuana being the drugs of choice. It has been estimated that approximately 300-500 crack abusers are local. The prison population doubled during the last five years, most the crimes committed in TCI were drug-related.

Demand Reduction: In 2002, the National Drug Unit conducted a school survey that examined the comsumption patters of various substances among the secondary school population. The results revealed that 74.6% of students tried alcohol; 21.8% had tried marijuana; 12.8% had tried inhalants; and 1.7% had tried crack cocaine.

A study in 2004 found that the majority of prisioners were in prision because of drug related offences.

You can also reach us by Email: info@drugcouncil.tc