Side Events

Duration: 1 day

Training Group: ICUDDR

Training Language: English

Description: This course provides an introduction to the topic of publishing in scholarly journals, with specific modules on writing each section of a research paper. In addition, ethical issues, writing quantitative research and review papers, and the submission process will be discussed. Those participating will have the opportunity to share a draft of their work for review. This course is led by Richard Pates, a founder member and former president of ISAJE and served as the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Substance Use for 20 years. Dr Pates is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and a visiting Professor of Psychology at the University of Worcester who has published 40 or so papers and book chapters.

Training objectives:

• Define key critical concepts for academic publishing, including ethical considerations.
• Identify best practices for developing the various components of a manuscript.
• Understand the process of manuscript submission.

Duration: 2 days (24 - 25 June 2024)

Training Group: ISSUP

Description: This meeting will be for representatives of established National Chapters. The meeting will provide National Chapters with an opportunity to network and learn from the work and experience of other National Chapters around the world. Participants will be able to exchange experiences and knowledge and explore ways to collaborate and plan joint initiatives with other National Chapters and partner organisations. 

Duration: 3 days (26 - 28 June 2024 – closed meeting)

Training Group: UNODC

Description: This meeting is intended for representatives of key national institutions from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan who are engaged in developing, implementing and evaluating policies, and programs related to drug demand reduction. The primary objective of the meeting is to review progress made on quality assurance for the treatment of drug use disorders and capacity building for drug treatment professionals. In addition, the stakeholder meeting will present an opportunity to assess the emerging trends in drug use within the Central Asia region, identify mechanisms and strategies to respond to those and enhance networking – including through the Global Synthetic Coalition - to enable strategic responses. Furthermore, the meeting will be an opportunity for stakeholders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to be informed about new tools and initiatives of UNODC and partner agencies.

Training Date: Monday June 24th - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Location: Conference Hall, Riadis Building

Training Group: Joint program by the University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry and ICUDDR

Training Language: English

Description: Many adults have a mental illness and a substance use disorder (co-occurring disorder, or COD). The presence of two or more disorders can complicate diagnosis and treatment. Integrating screening, diagnosis, and treatment for mental and substance use disorders leads to a better quality of care and improved health outcomes for those living with COD.

Training objectives:

1. Describe the philosophical conflicts and stigma accompanying dual diagnosis.
2. Explain guiding principles for working with clients with COD.
3. Identify different factors accompanying the need for integrated treatment systems and comprehensive care.
4. Understand models and techniques for working with clients with COD.

Training Date: Thursday, 27th June – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Location: Primary School 34 

Trainer: Ilias Paraskevopoulos - Certified Online Counselor (E-Counseling Institute Nuremberg), Systemic Family Therapist (SANGreece), Addiction Counselor (IC&RC), MSc Criminal Law and Addictions (AUTH), SocialWorker / SocialPedagogue (KSFH Munich), 

Working as an addiction counsellor for teenagers at KETHEA ANADYSI, Thessaloniki

Training Language: English

Workshop Description: Communication technology is moving faster and faster. New communication possibilities arise, which influence the sector of counselling and psychotherapy. Traditional addiction counselling as well as addiction therapy, take slowly advantage of this development and enrich their toolboxes with useful new online tools.

At this workshop, we will briefly discuss the perception of reality (frame-related, subjective), as this is very important in text-based, anonymous online counselling. We will also talk about “writing” (text-based communication). The participants will work with the help of case studies in small groups: First they will exercise in “digital reading” which is a special way to read online-counseling-text. Then they will experiment with some practical and helpful work concepts for the online counselling process (e.g. so-called “4 – transparencies - concept”). At the end of the workshop participants will have their own toolkit, a useful First-Answer-Guide and they will be sensitized on the special characteristics of the digital counseling process. They will also be able to reflect on their own behaviour in digital reading and writing.

The target group of the workshop are counselors, therapists and/or supervisors from the addiction field, who work online or think about working online in the near future.

 Training objectives:

1. Awareness of the unique characteristics of the digital counseling process   
2. Toolkit of a helpful First-Answer-Guide
3. Reflection on the counselor's behavior during digital reading and writing.

Training Date: Friday 28th June - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Location: Room 4, Vellidis Building

Training language: English

Workshop Description: The year 2024 marks the mid-point of the implementation period of the 2019 Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening our Actions at the National, Regional and International Levels to Accelerate the Implementation of our Joint Commitments to Address and Counter the World Drug Problem. The declaration reaffirmed the commitments made by Member States in 2009, 2014 and 2016 and outlined 12 challenges that need to be addressed to further accelerate the implementation of the joint commitments. The mid-term review conducted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in March 2024 provided an opportunity for Member States to take stock of the progress made, identify challenges and gaps, and agree on priority actions for the remaining five years until 2029.

Civil society plays a crucial role in the implementation of the joint drug policy commitments, as well as in providing inputs and feedback to the CND and other relevant UN entities. The UNODC Civil Society Unit (CSU) together with the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) works with civil society stakeholders across the world, supporting meaningful, balanced engagement on drug policy matters to help advance the implementation of international commitments.

The workshop will consist of plenary sessions with presentations by experts from UNODC, VNGOC and other relevant organizations, as well as interactive group discussions among participants. The biennial conference of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) brings together a wide range of experts, practitioners, policymakers, and civil society representatives working in the field of drug demand reduction, creating an excellent opportunity for this workshop to further enhance civil society contributions to the implementation of international drug policy commitments.

Objectives:

1. Provide an overview of the outcomes of the 2024 CND mid-term review.
2. Present and discuss the main findings and recommendations of the global consultations and a global online survey conducted by VNGOC and UNODC CSU in the lead-up to the mid-term review.
3. Identify concrete actions that civil society can take at local, national, regional, and international levels to help accelerate the implementation of the joint drug policy commitments until 2029.
4. Foster dialogue and collaboration among civil society representatives from different regions, sectors, and perspectives on drug policy issues.

Expected Outcomes:

The workshop will provide an opportunity to increase knowledge about civil society input on the Mid-term review. It will allow civil society to engage with Member States and other stakeholders on how to enhance cooperation and partnership in addressing the world drug problem. The workshop will also increase awareness and visibility of civil society's role and contributions in implementing the 2019 Ministerial Declaration.

Training Date:  Wednesday, June 26th; 9:00 am to 10:30 am

Location: NEW Room, Germanos Building

Workshop Description: Join us to discover the many benefits of our practical and evidence-based technical assistance program. This program is designed to enhance women's access to substance use disorder treatment and programming.

Learning Objectives:

1. Witness live demonstrations of our technical assistance materials and gain insights on how to access personalized training, mentoring, and support.
2. These resources aim to build workforce capacity and improve outcomes for women with substance use disorders. 

Training Language: English

Training Date: Wednesday, June 26th; 11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Location: NEW Room, Germanos Building

Workshop Description: Join us to engage in a stimulating discussion about mentoring others and receiving mentoring focused on women’s substance use disorder treatment and recovery.

Learning Objectives:

1. Acquire the top 5 tips for being a mentor and the top 5 tips for receiving mentoring.
2. Explore the diverse ways the Global Women’s Network will offer a comprehensive. mentoring program
3. Sign up now to kickstart your career advancement by expanding your mentoring network.