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Treatment is responsible for providing direct clinical supervision/support and financial oversight to the Women’s Treatment Centre and Men’s Treatment Centre, to ensure that the treatment network of agencies is coordinated to administer effective and efficient client care and to improve the quality and access to substance abuse treatment services.  Treatment is also involved in establishing national minimum standards substance abuse treatment services as well as facilitating international accreditation of key assessment and treatment services in Bermuda.   The DNDC collaborates with government and public entities to develop the treatment services infrastructure.  We provide coordination and technical assistance to the Bermuda Addiction Certification Board in workforce development initiatives by facilitating training events for working professionals and by forging new relationships with educational institutions local and abroad.  It is one of our major goals, that through treatment we can reduce the negative health and social complications associated with drug abuse and misuse in Bermuda.

Treatment and Rehabilitation Goals

1. To provide sufficient, affordable and comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation services using a continuum of care model.
2. Educate policy-makers and the public about the nature of dependence as a disease and the effectiveness of treatment..
3. Through education and training, promote early identification and intervention to slow or halt disease progressions, improve prognosis/outcomes and reduce related problems.
4. Ensure prompt access to individualized, evidence-based intervention and treatment services to individuals and their families.
5. Establish evidence-based substance abuse services throughout the criminal justice system to break the cycle of addiction and crime.
6. Provide broad-based information and education to the general public in harm reduction or minimization strategies for drug addicts and where necessary to initiate and support interventions that facilitates an overall public health approach to addressing harm minimization.

Treatment Specific Objectives

• To strengthen/develop the legal and institutional frameworks that will allow and guarantee a better quality of treatment for the drug addicted and other dependent populations (including drug treatment court clients).
• To develop and implement minimum standards of care from the treatment continuum
• To broaden the coverage of the programmes and services of treatment for the drug dependent population (including supportive residency)
• To promote a healthy drug-free environment within prisons and correctional institutions by providing drug treatment to those affected by drug dependence
• To provide comprehensive treatment services for children and adolescents
• To develop and introduce a formalized drunk driving counselling and rehabilitation programme

Treatment Outcomes

• Sufficient treatment and rehabilitation services, provided on-island, for drug dependent individuals (bed capacity and staffing complement increased)
• Services in the area of treatment and rehabilitation are accessible, affordable and available to drug dependent individuals and their families
• Inter-agency facilitation of the various processes to meet the needs of persons requiring treatment and rehabilitation (including supportive housing)
• Addicts in prisons and detention facilities benefit from necessary treatment and rehabilitation programmes while incarcerated
• After care programmes provided for inmates upon release
• Enhanced utilization of the drug treatment court programme

HARM REDUCTION OVERALL OBJECTIVE

To reduce the impact of the use of drugs on the population that persists in patterns of active consumption, through strategies of intervention at the different levels of addiction.

Specific Objectives

• To reduce the health and social complications associated with drug consumption
• To sensitize and inform the general population on the potential benefits of the harm reduction strategy for dysfunctional drug users
• To support the creation and functioning of a community organization(s) which provide the services of harm reduction to the drug users

Harm Reduction Outcomes

• A well informed general public on the value of harm-minimization for street drug addicts
• A minimum package of services provided to street addicts to help meet basic public health needs
• Reduction of the morbidity and mortality associated with chaotic drug consumption
• Reduction of the social complications of drug use and abuse

The Treatment Unit of the Department for National Drug Control is tasked with the responsibilities for the management and/or oversight of substance abuse assessment, treatment, aftercare and re-intergration programmes in Bermuda.

The Department works in partnership with public and private agencies and organizations to provide leadership and coordination in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive national alcohol and other drug intervention continuum of care.

These agencies include:

• Bermuda Assessment and Referral Centre (BARC)
• Focus Counselling Services
• Turning Point Substance Abuse Programme
• Bermuda Youth Counselling Services
• Men’s Treatment Programe (formerly Camp Spirit)
• Women’s Treatment Centre
• Salvation Army Harbour Light
• Salvation Army Life Skills Recovery Programme
• Drug Treatment Court
• Caron Bermuda
• Bermuda Professionals Counselling Services
• Transitions
• Bermuda Addiction Certification Board