SOLIDARITY, HEALTH AND FAMILYPublished on December 19, 2024

Fight against addictions: MILDECA travels to the Northern Islands

Vice-President Michel Petit in charge of social affairs received this Monday, December 16, 2024, Ms. Valentine Fournier, interministerial delegate of MILDECA, accompanied by Ms. Delphine Scandella and Ms. Marie Faverjon, members of his cabinet.

Fight against addictions

MILDECA (Interministerial Mission to Combat Drugs and Addictive Behavior) was created in 1982. Placed under the authority of the Prime Minister since 2008, this government Mission coordinates the strategy for preventing and combating addictive behavior.

As Michel Petit recalled, the situation is very worrying in Saint-Martin. According to the doctor of the Maternal and Child Protection (PMI), Dr. Evelyne Banguid, the diagnosis made by the Collectivité in terms of prevention and by the health services in terms of care, is particularly alarming. The addictive behaviors of parents have worrying consequences on young children, who develop behavioral disorders that are difficult to treat.

According to the DGA Thierry Verres and Hénoc Patrick in charge of security and delinquency prevention, the 2024 figures are worrying, juvenile delinquency is exploding with more than 100 cases currently in progress in the services of the Gendarmerie of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin . Prevention actions are carried out to support social integration and parenthood, in particular through the CLSPD.

In-depth work on addiction has also been initiated by the State Health services and partner associations such as the local Red Cross delegation, in conjunction with the Solidarity, Health, Families delegation of the Collectivité, led by Michel Petit and the interim DGA, Stuyvesant Lewis-Gumbs.

As indicated by the delegate Valentine Fournier, "Saint-Martin has initiated a good dynamic to fight against addictions (drugs - digital screens, etc.) and to support public and private actors in their initiatives, MILDECA has launched an interministerial call for projects aimed at supporting social integration projects in the territories". The latter is open until March 14. The selected communities will receive credits at the end of 2025, to carry out their projects.