ISSUP 2026 Virtual Event Programme

The virtual event will take place across two days, 22–23 September 2026, with two main sessions each day. Alongside the main sessions, simultaneous poster sessions will run during selected programme slots, providing an opportunity to showcase additional research, projects, and practice-based approaches from across different sectors and regions.

Please see the timetable below for the full programme. All times are in BST (British Summer Time).

Tuesday 22nd September 2026

  • Session 1: From Evidence to Practice: Advances in Substance Use Disorder Care
  • Session 2: Addressing Youth Substance Use and Crime: Risk Factors and Strategies

Wednesday 23rd September 2026

  • Session 3: Intersectoral Collaboration for Effective Substance Use Responses
  • Session 4: Faith-Based Approaches: The Role of Faith and Religious Institutions in Addressing Substance Use

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Tuesday, 22nd September 2026

14:00

WELCOME REMARKS -  Joanna Travis - Roberts

From Evidence to Practice: Advances in Substance Use Disorder Care

Chaired by: Livia Edegger
  • We know what works, why don’t we use it? Some reflections from our work with Member States - Giovanna Campello
  • Facing Drug Challenges: The EUDA Vision on Health and Social Responses - Dr. Marica Ferri
  • SBIRT as a Tool for Prevention and Reducing Risky Substance Use Behaviours Among Young People in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria - Dr. Fatima Abiola Popoola, Prof. Ola Bolanle Adeyemi, Prof. Victor Lasebikan, Dr. Olushola Olibamoyo
  • Factors Associated with Receipt of Medications for Alcohol Use Disorder in Primary Care Prior to Acute Care Encounters in Southern California - Dr. Brian Maila, Dr. Yanni Chang, Prof. María Luisa Zúñiga, Prof. Eileen V. Pitpitan, Dr. Carla Marienfeld
  • Beyond Treatment: Building Systemic Capital for Recovery - Dr. Jo-Hanna Ivers
15:30 Break
16:00

Addressing Youth Substance Use and Crime: Risk Factors and Strategies

Chaired by: Guido Prósperi and Radolf Nortey
 
  • Understanding Youth Recruitment to Inform Prevention: Insights from EUCPN - Dr. Maxime Hennen
  • National Dialogue for Peace in Mexico: for a shared and habitable future - Dr. Ana Paula Hernández Romano
  • Addressing Youth Substance Use and Crime: Prevention and Recovery Lessons from Kinshasa - Mrs. Cressida de Witte, Mr. Dandy Yela
  • Peer-based interventions for substance use among young people - Dr. Tara Carney
  • Framing Youth Substance Use in Northern Ghana: An Environmental Scan of News and Social Media Discourses - Dr. Abukari Kwame, Mr. Abdul Latif Umar Mohammed, Dr. Deborah Louise Sinclair, Dr. Geoffrey Maina
 

 

 

Wednesday, 23rd September 2026

14:00

Intersectoral Collaboration for Effective Substance Use Responses

Chaired by: Goodman Sibeko
  • Psychosocial Care for Offenders with Mild Substance Use Disorders - Dr. Apinun Aramrattana
  • Exploring the Court-Mandated and Police Request Forms Induction at Shimo Mat Clinic for a Period of 2020-2025 - Mr. Justus Otieno
  • Hidden Risks in Mental Health Services: Workplace Drivers of Substance Use Among Psychiatric Staff in Accra - Mr. Samuel Kwakye
  • Deflection and Cross-Sector Collaboration - Jac Charlier
15:30 Break
16:00

Faith-Based Approaches: The Role of Faith and Religious Institutions in Addressing Substance Use

Chaired by: Mulka Nisic
  • Faith in Young People? Understanding the Potential and Purpose of Faith in the Recovery and Desistance Journeys of Adolescents and Young Adults - Mr. Tim Rosier
  • Latin American Pastoral Manual for Addiction Prevention and Support - Sofia Serú
  • Strengthening Faith-Based Responses to Drugs and Youth Criminal Recruitment: CICAD's Experience in the Americas - Dr. José Luis Vázquez 
  • "Proclaim Liberty to the Captives": Reflections on the Christian Contribution—Its Strengths and Vulnerabilities - Andy Partington 
  • Evidence Based Assessment of Religious Leaders and Institutions in Combating Drugs and Substance Abuse in Nigeria - Mr. Babangida Lawal Ibrahim
  • Faith, Hope and Recovery: Building a Life Worth Living - Mr. Huseyin Djemil
 
Closing remarks by Joanna Travis - Roberts

Poster Session

 
  • Resonating Recovery: The Impact of Solfeggio Frequencies and Breathwork on Neural Stabilization and Emotional Regulation in Substance Use Disorders - Ms. Charisma Dixon
  • Assets Coming Together for Adolescents and Young Adult Health and Wellness (ACT NOW!!!): Engaging Community Actors in a Mapping Exercise to Bridge the Gap Between Drug Prevention Science and Practice - Dr. Novia Carter
  • Youth Engagement as a Strategic Tool for Strengthening Evidence-Based Drug Prevention in Africa - Mr. Shabani Shabani
  • Integrated In-Patient Rehabilitation and Community Outreach for Substance Use Disorders in a Resource-Limited Post-Conflict Setting: Experience from Liberia - Mr. Joseph Jusu
  • Dream-Catchers: A Scalable Youth Mentoring Model for Substance Use Prevention in Nigeria - Mr. Ejikeme Ogueji
  • MeWeSports: A Community Sports-Based Intervention for Preventing Adolescent Substance Use and Promoting Mental Health - Development and Pilot Insights from India - Ms. Brinda Singh Raikwar, Ms. Vartika Jain, Ms. Rakshanda Paimapari, Mr. Suheil Tandon, Dr. Urvita Bhatia, Dr. Abhijit Nadkarni
  • Strengthening Organizational Resilience to Sustain Drug Rehabilitation Services During Crisis: Evidence from Indonesia - Ms. Rosita Dewi Eka Renel
  • Connecting Sectors Creating Impact: A Community-Driven Drug Abuse Prevention Model from EWU-Ekiti, Nigeria - Mrs. Lydia Adza Ajayi, Ms. Gift Yuadoo Soho
  • Connecting Sectors, Creating Impact: A United Response on Drugs - Dr. Peter Adenibuyan
  • Collaboration in Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation in the Philippines - Dr. Carl Abelardo Antonio, Dr. Jessica Li
  • Structural and Regulatory Deficits in Alcohol Control Policy: A Critical Evaluation of Advertising Governance and Treatment Systems in Nigeria’s Draft NNAP 2025 - Ms. Angela Bekederemo, Prof. Takim Ojua, Mr. Christogonus Ibe

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