A two-day Regional Demand Reduction Forum opens at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Georgetown, Guyana-based Headquarters on Monday 17 September 2001, bringing together governmental and non governmental agencies from across the Region to set out a new course of action against the scourge of substance abuse which threatens to consume the entire Region. The Forum is also expected to advise the Community Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) on the policy direction to be adopted.

The Substance Abuse Reduction Forum is expected to consider a needs assessment report from a study on drug demand reduction in the Caribbean.

The Study, which is intended to lend perspective to the Region's response in the fight against substance abuse, was commissioned by the CARICOM Secretariat and was carried out by Drug Scope of the United Kingdom, in collaboration with consultants from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Caribbean Harm Reduction Coalition. It was financially supported by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom to the tune of approximately US$135,000.

CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, Dr. Edward Greene, and Acting British High Commissioner to Guyana, His Excellency Mr. Steve Crossman, are scheduled to address the opening session, setting the tone of the deliberations. The programme of activities for the Forum will include plenary and workshop sessions culminating with the formulation of recommendations to be tabled at the 5^th Meeting of COHSOD scheduled for 3-5 October, 2001.

Representation at the Forum will include national Drug Abuse Councils, Health Science Education interests, Mental Health Institutions, the University of the West Indies (UWI), the University of Guyana (UG) and Treatment and Rehabilitation centres. International Organisations represented in the Region are also expected to participate in the Forum.