Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD)

Executive Secretariat of CICAD (Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission)

Ambassador Namm with the OAS flag behind.

Adam E. Namm

Executive Secretary, CICAD

Bio

Angela Crowdy

Assistant Executive Secretary, CICAD

Bio

The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (known by its Spanish language acronym, CICAD) is the consultative and advisory body of the OAS on the drug issue. It serves as a forum for OAS member states to discuss and find solutions to the drug problem and provides them technical assistance to increase their capacity to counter the drug problem.

Since its establishment in 1986, CICAD and its Executive Secretariat have responded to the ever-changing challenges of drug control, expanding its efforts to promote regional cooperation and coordination with and among its member states.

The CICAD Executive Secretariat, led by an Executive Secretary and Assistant Executive Secretary, is composed of two sections with a total of five units (see chart here):

Drug Control Capacity Building and Technical Assistance Section
Evidence-Based Drug Policy Section: Information, Design, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Data Collection and Analysis
- Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism
- Inter-American Observatory on Drugs

In December 2020, OAS member states approved by consensus the new OAS Hemispheric Drug Strategy and its corresponding five-year Plan of Action 2021-2025. Through the Strategy, OAS member states recognize the importance of efforts made to address the world drug problem, including ratification and implementation of relevant international conventions, and at the same time, acknowledge the need to strengthen drug policies, strategies, and actions.

The Hemispheric Plan of Action on Drugs (2021-2025), a guide for the implementation of the Strategy, supports member states and reiterates their commitment to placing individuals at the core of drug policies and programs and furthering tangible progress in addressing the world drug problem within the framework of the three international drug control conventions and other relevant international instruments, in full respect of the principles of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

CICAD works closely with partners such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Narcotics Control Board, the Pan American Health Organization, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, and the Regional Security System. CICAD also maintains strong ties with civil society, including the participation of civil society in all CICAD regular sessions.

@cicad_oea

Organization chart

Structure

Institutional Strengthening

The Institutional Strengthening Unit of CICAD's Executive Secretariat promotes the development of institutional capacities in OAS member states by facilitating the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public policies, plans and strategies. This covers areas such as institutional coordination, alternatives to incarceration, social integration, alternative development, and decentralization of policies.

Inter-American Observatory on Drugs

The Inter-American Observatory on Drugs (OID, by its Spanish-language acronym) is CICAD's research unit and provides support to OAS member states in the collection and analysis of data on the drug problem so that governments can design more effective national drug policies.

Demand Reduction

The Demand Reduction Unit works to reduce the demand for illicit drugs and other substances of abuse by discouraging and preventing initial use of drugs, intervening early with occasional or non-dependent drug users, and treating the negative health and social consequences of dependency through treatment, rehabilitation and aftercare programs.

Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism

The Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism Unit manages the MEM process, which evaluates how each OAS member state is implementing the OAS Hemispheric Plan of Action on Drugs, helping to improve their capacity to control drug trafficking and abuse, and strengthen multilateral cooperation.

Supply Reduction

The mission of the Supply Reduction Unit is to increase the capacity of member states to counter the production and trafficking of illicit drugs and reduce their availability. Relying on a multidimensional, comprehensive, and evidence-based approach, CICAD supports OAS member states to strengthen their capacities to effectively disrupt the production, trafficking, and distribution of illicit drugs in the region.

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