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		The Legal View Drug use, in the context of Demand Reduction, applies to the abuse of both licit and illicit drugs. The Drug Situation Trinidad and Tobago, like most of the Caribbean islands, is a transit country for narcotics from South America, the United States of America and Europe. Of the two islands, Trinidad is the main transhipment point for the South American cocaine while most of the cocaine entering Tobago does so from Trinidad via local air bridge or inter-island ferry. While the local law enforcement forces reports a decrease in overall crime, there is perception that illegal activity surrounding the drug trade such as petty trading of cocaine by youths, burglary by addicts, traffickers in coastal areas, prostitution by addicted persons etc., is on the increase. The Legislative Framework Trinidad and Tobago became a signatory to the 1998 United Nations Vienna Convention on February 17, 1995. This was a major step in seeking to prevent and eradicate the illegal drug trade. One Act of significance to this action is the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1991. Dangerous Drug Act, 1991 The Dangerous Drugs Act No. 38 of 1991 (amended by Act No. 22 of 1994 and Act No. 55 of 2000) provides for the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and makes provisions for the confiscation of the proceeds of drug trafficking and other provisions. The Act makes the distinction between the drug 'user' and the 'trafficker'. It defines 'drug traffic'/ 'drug trafficking' as the unlawful export, import, manufacture, sale, giving, administering, transporting, delivery or distribution by any person of a dangerous drug or substance known by such person to be a dangerous drug. However, when a person who has a licence conducts these activities, he/she is not considered a drug trafficker. The Act is specific in its efforts to protect vulnerable groups in the society, namely children at school. It states that possession of a dangerous drug or substance within one hundred metres of a school's premises is deemed as having said dangerous drug or substance for the purpose of trafficking. The burden of proving otherwise is on the accused. School premises include playing fields, buildings or any premises maintained or used by such institutions for the benefit of its students. It does not matter whether the dangerous drug or substance was for personal use or for the purpose of trafficking. Outside of the school environment, a person who is found in any house, room or place (without reasonable excuse) where a dangerous drug is being illegally used, is guilty of an offence. A person who is in control of or occupies any room or vehicle where a dangerous drug is found is deemed to be in possession of that drug unless he/she proves that the drug was there without his/her knowledge or consent.
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