Important progress in the NDOs Working Groups
From January to June 2018, the second Coordination and Expert Group Meetings to design to evaluate and validate scales and indicators of "problematic drug use" (Santiago de Chile, 26-27 March), to develop methodologies for a better understanding of new problems or threats (Buenos Aires, 23-24 April) and to strengthening the capacity of NDOs to produce a national report (Panama City, 4-5 July) were held. The respective Drug Commissions of Chile, Argentina and Panama, National Service for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Drug And Alcohol Consumption (SENDA), Secretariat of Comprehensive Policies on Drugs of the Argentine Nation (SEDRONAR) and the National Commission for the Study and Prevention of Drug-related Crimes (CONAPRED) oversaw the logistic organization and provided all the technical and management support for the success of the activities and the authorities corresponding to each institution also participated. In the aforementioned meetings, whose objectives were linked to the follow-up of the work schedule fixed during the first meetings and carried out during 2017.
Emphasis on the progress was placed on the:
- Conceptual and methodological development.
- Agreements reached by the Experts' Group.
With the purpose of having the best contributions to knowledge, special experts were summoned in addition to professionals from the EMCDDA and the OID-CICAD, the two regional Observatories committed to supporting the activities along the whole programme. This follow-up is consolidating coordinated work between the leading countries, the European reference countries and the supporting institutions, reaching the synergy sought among all working groups (Spanish and English-speaking groups). The working papers and products are shared within the Working Group through the virtual tools developed by COPOLAD (e-room of COPOLAD)
The Expert Group working on the Early Warning System continues in the process of elaboration of the Handbook for the Implementation of an EWS and the tasks began for call and organization of the next meeting to be held in July in Montevideo.
At the same time, almost all countries participating in Strengthening the capacity of NDOs for the Elaboration of the National Report designated the professional who will be drafting the Country Report. The five tutors selected by COPOLAD have conducted the follow-up on every consultant, according to the distribution of the countries, in five working groups. The activity has incorporated a new expert on information dissemination issues and gathered all actors concerned with the activity: countries’ consultants and tutors, and drafting professionals.
Within the framework of COPOLAD's side event held within the framework of the CND (Vienna,13 March) the Task Force Coordinator of NDOs accompanied the Delegation of COPOLAD, head by its Director, Teresa Salvador-Llivina, in bilateral meetings with different countries to address operational aspects related to the development of the activities.
