Seven drug experts visited the Island last week to support Bermuda's first addiction counselling certification board.

The National Drug Commission created the Bermuda Addiction Certification Board (BACB) last year in consultation with the Health and Social Services Ministry to "protect the public from unqualified service providers'' in the addiction field.

It was also set up to "ensure the availability of a highly skilled and professionally credentialled workforce governed by uniform professional standards''.

And the seven representatives of the southeast region of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium, of which the BACB is a member, have decided to hold their quarterly meeting here for the first time to honour Bermuda's entry into the IC&RC.

The representatives, who include IC&RC president Neil McGarry and chairperson of the southeastern region Jane Furtner, held a three-day training session at the Bermuda College for BACB members. Their quarterly meeting was held on Saturday, following a dinner in Stonington's dining room on Friday night.

The BACB is made up of chairman Calvin Ming, vice chairman Nelson Bascome, executive secretary Joanne Dill, treasurer Sandy Butterfield and several members at large, including Rosemary McNaughton, Helen Pearman-Ziral, and Ceciley Harris-Goodman. "This is a working board,'' NDC treatment coordinator Lynda Price told The Royal Gazette . "It will be working in close harmony with the Ministry of Health and Social Services to raise the awareness of the public who have a right to know the criteria for those working in the counselling area.

"The board ensures a competent workforce by asking people to go through the certification.'' Dr. Price -- who chaired the Canadian Addiction Certification Board and oversaw the setting up of the local board -- explained that as a member of the IC&RC, BACB required applicants to undergo specific addictions education, training and supervised practice as preparation for a written exam and a case presentation oral exam. The BACB can grant successful applicants the titles of International Certified Alcohol and Drug (ICADC) Counsellor, Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS), Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS), and Associate Counsellor of Alcohol and Drugs (ACAD) which is an entry position for those coming into the field who want to proceed to certification.

In addition to meeting all relevant criteria for certification, successful applicants also must sign a comprehensive Code of Ethics that governs all aspects of professional conduct in the addiction field. All addictions counsellors and prevention specialists certified by the BACB at the international level will not only meet the criteria for competent practice established by IC&RC, but will also be eligible to apply for employment in the addictions field in the US, Canada, Sweden, and Germany.

While noting that the certification was still voluntary, Dr. Price said eventually it would be supported by legislation. "We're hoping that that will occur within a year,'' she added.

Cal Ming