About Us  

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 OAS efforts to promote regional cooperation and coordination with and among OAS member states.

The OAS Hemispheric Drug Strategy, adopted in 2020, addresses the world drug problem as a complex, dynamic, and multi-causal phenomenon, which requires a comprehensive, balanced, and multidisciplinary approach. 

The Hemispheric Plan of Action on Drugs (2021-2025), a guide for the implementation of the Strategy, establishes priority actions for OAS Member States, placing individuals at the center of drug policy and including a cross-cutting perspective on human rights, gender and development, with a focus on evidence-based drug policy. Through its annual programming and a wide range of national and regional projects in the Hemisphere, CICAD supports member states in strengthening their drug policies by conducting in-depth research and evaluations on drug-related issues and emerging trends, providing effective technical assistance and specialized training focused on capacity building. 

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.