Cuba moves forward in the creation of the National Drug Observatory (NDO), with the purpose of upholding active surveillance in the epidemiological, health, and security areas regarding new psychoactive substances and the phenomenon of emerging drugs, and providing evidence for the design of policies in the area of demand reduction and control of the drugs supply.

Likewise, its goal is to quickly alert about changes in the drug phenomenon, in order to minimize the risks associated.

In statements to Granma, Alexis Batista Segrera, director of International Relations of the Ministry of Justice (Minjus), explained that the NDO has, within its role, that of providing its national users with information that is considered essential for formulating policies, and the organization of services related to drugs, as well as data on issues of general interest related to this problem.

It also aims to collect and produce the information necessary to meet the country's obligations regarding the preparation of reports for supranational and international programs for monitoring and controlling drugs.

Batista Segrera said that the Observatory will allow for the coordination process of the production of information and knowledge on the definition and study of drug issues in the country, for their monitoring, understanding, and explanation, and for the design of appropriate policies that anticipate, mitigate or solve the problems as well as the evaluation of these, with broad participation of relevant actors.

IN THE FIELD OF INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

The Minjus and the European Cooperation Program Copolad III, led by Fiiapp/Cooperación Española, have organized two seminars/workshops for the creation of the NDO and the Early Warning System.

The first meeting, held in December 2024, established a clear roadmap for the implementation of the Observatory in our country, which will not only outline the actions to follow, but will also allow for a systematic and coordinated approach in the collection and analysis of data on drug use and its effects on the population.

The Minjus highlighted that, "during the workshop, successful experiences from other observatories in Latin America and Europe were presented, which has proven to be a valuable source of learning. The external perspective has allowed us to identify strategies that have worked in similar contexts, and to adapt those lessons to our reality. This interaction with other countries reinforces the importance of international cooperation and the exchange of information in the fight against drug trafficking."

Key issues were addressed to give content and functionality to the National Drug Observatory, such as, for example, the importance of establishing a national network for research and information on drugs, the formalization of a scientific advisory committee and the development of a national research agenda on drug problems and the keys to an Early Warning System on new psychoactive substances (NPS), emerging drugs and other threats.

To understand these alliances, Pilar Varona Estrada, vice-minister of the organization, explained to this media that Copolad is a cooperation program between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union in drug policies that provides technical assistance to countries to create (or strengthen) NDOs with specific programs and the necessary tools in a cooperative fashion, so that they can carry out their implementation.

She highlighted international cooperation as an essential means to confront the global drug problem on a basis of responsibility of all States.

Specifically, in the work with Cuba, he explained that Copolad provided technical assistance to create the Observatory, although the National Drug Commission has been established in the country, in compliance with all the agreements and conventions of the United Nations related to this scourge, and which reaffirms and enforces the zero tolerance policy.

The essential objective of the Commission is not only confrontation, because among its members are the Ministry of Interior or the Attorney General's Office, it also presents a preventive approach, by bringing together the Ministries of Education, Higher Education and Public Health.

By agreement of the Council of State, the Ministry of Justice was charged with directing the Commission, focusing its operation and implementation to achieve a successful leadership and make this principle of zero tolerance effective.

Therefore, he emphasized that "Cuba has the conditions to create the Observatory, which would be the tool to articulate, evaluate, investigate and monitor the specific situation of the country, in addition to focusing specific information on the evolution of behavior not only on Cuba, but also in the region and worldwide».

IMPLEMENTATION IN 2025

Varona Estrada stressed that the creation of the NDO set for this year, as it has a period of implementation that began with that first workshop to approach the experiences of the observatories in the region and the Early Warning Systems.

«This offered us a vision of what the role of NDO is that is not related to that of the Commission, since the first would allow, as a structure, to make assessments and retrieve information to trace the path of a more effective confrontation; while the second stipulates the policies», he stressed.

The second workshop/preparation, which concludes this Thursday, closes the cycle of preparation and technical assistance, and focuses directly on forensic labs, with the possibilities of better preparation of all personnel.

One of the objectives of the NDO, he specified, is its Early Warning System, in order to make decisions and have greater effectiveness as a country to reinforce this principle of zero tolerance.

The commitment –and intention– is to create the Observatory in July. «We are already putting ideas into practice on how it should be formed, the premises and the means that it would require. We are talking about a structure that does not require more than three or four people and that would also be under the responsibility, up to now, of the Ministry of Justice», she commented.

She added that, in the case of the System, experts would be used in a cooperative manner to carry out investigations, in addition to the training schools of all the organizations that make up the National Drug Commission, which would have an active role and would contribute information to the NDO.

In Cuba –the Vice Minister stressed– there’s the political will of the Government for a principle of zero tolerance, which is executed in an articulated manner with all those who are in charge of confrontation and prevention.

MAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE NDO

Obtaining and monitoring data on a national scale.
Analysis and interpretation of the information collected.
Preparation of reports and dissemination of the results.
Coordinate the national information and research network.
Organize the Early Warning System.

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff