Strengthening the Fight against Drugs in Panama: CONAPRED and CICAD-OAS Promote the SAT Project

The National Commission for Drug Prevention of Panama (CONAPRED) is taking significant steps in the fight against drug consumption, strengthening strategies in collaboration with CICAD-OAS. The central initiative is the development of the Early Warning Systems Project in Response to Opioids and New Psychoactive Substances (NSP) in Latin America and the Caribbean.

At the recent Seminar-Workshop of the Early Warning System (SAT), held on March 28 and 29 at the Marriott Panama Hotel – Albrook Mall, representatives of the Panamanian Drug Observatory (OPADRO), national institutions and international experts involved met. in similar systems in their respective countries. This event became a key meeting point to discuss and advance the early warning strategy.

Dr. Gressy Zúñiga, UMECIT focal point before OPADRO, played a prominent role as a monitor in the discussion panel “The Importance of Laboratories in the Analysis of Emerging Drugs.” In his conclusions, he emphasized that the forensic laboratories of Chile, Colombia, El Salvador and Uruguay feed the SAT database in their countries. This allows the identification of new derivatives of traditional drugs and the presence of emerging substances, contributing to their characterization and the development of initiatives for regulatory changes.

For her part, Mgter. Linette Govea, Coordinator of General Psychology of our House of Studies, led the panel "Panama's Experience in the Collection of Information on Drugs with Serious Risk to Health." He highlighted Panama's commitment to sharing revealing statistics on substance consumption. According to data collected by CSS and IMELF, alcohol remains the most consumed substance in the country, closely followed by marijuana and cocaine. This detailed analysis reinforces the country's commitment to continuous improvement in the collection and dissemination of drug-related information.

Another significant contribution came from Professor Alexis Brenes, a professor at UMECIT, who participated as a forensic chemist in the working groups for the creation of the SAT in Panama. His integration into the team further strengthened collaboration between academics, experts and professionals in the fight against drugs.

This event was not only a space for the exchange of knowledge, but also laid the foundations for Panama to integrate into the global Early Warning System.

The transdisciplinarity and commitment evidenced in the seminar-workshop mark an outstanding moment in the national strategy to combat drugs. CONAPRED continues to demonstrate a serious and continuous commitment to building a solid network to address challenges related to substance use. This is a fundamental step towards a more informed and coordinated approach to confront this problem in Panamanian territory.