Fourteen Countries Gather in Trinidad and Tobago to Strengthen Drug Policies and Community-Based Interventions
Port of Spain, April 2nd, 2025: Fifty experts from health and drug administrations across the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean participated in a three-day meeting at the Brix Hotel, Port of Spain, to enhance drug-related policies and expand community-based interventions.
The meeting was held under the Cooperation Programme between Latin America, the Caribbean, and the European Union on Drug Policy (COPOLAD III) and aims to improve bi-regional cooperation on drug policies. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health’s National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programme (NADAPP) and the National Drug Council of Trinidad and Tobago, this initiative focused on strengthening support systems for vulnerable communities impacted by drug use.
Participants from 14 countries, including the Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Portugal, Spain, Suriname, Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago exchanged experiences, challenges and best practices during the three-day meeting.
The meeting included high-level discussions on territorial drug policy approaches, as well as a site visit to Penal, where experts assessed the progress of community-based drug prevention initiatives implemented under COPOLAD III.
Over the past two years, Trinidad and Tobago has significantly benefited from the COPOLAD III initiative, particularly through advanced training for NADAPP’s technical team, regional collaboration with seven Caribbean nations and community-based successes in high-risk areas.
The event featured Mercedes Alonso, Programme Manager of COPOLAD III, Joey Vermue from the European Union Delegation to Trinidad and Tobago and a distinguished panel of international and national experts.
This meeting highlights Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to addressing drug-related vulnerabilities through scientific evidence, social inclusion and cross-regional cooperation.
