On 17 June 2026, specialists from the Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Mental Health, the host organisation of ISSUP Kazakhstan, with the support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and expert input from the Forum of People Who Use Drugs, piloted a new training module entitled “New Psychoactive Substances: A Challenge!”
The module was developed to strengthen the competencies of professionals in the diagnosis, emergency response and referral of people who use new psychoactive substances (NPS), as well as to promote effective and sustainable approaches to collaboration with communities of people who use drugs.
As the host organisation of ISSUP Kazakhstan, RSPCMH continues to support the development of professional capacity in substance use prevention, treatment , harm reduction , and recovery . The pilot training reflects ISSUP Kazakhstan’s ongoing commitment to strengthening evidence-informed practice, intersectoral cooperation and community engagement in response to emerging challenges related to psychoactive substance use.
The training brought together psychiatrists from the Mental Health Center of Almaty, leaders and case managers from civil society organisations, outreach workers and peer counsellors providing support to people who use psychoactive substances.
Under the guidance of trainers (https://www.issup.net/members/profile/zhaniya-seksenova) Zhaniya Seksenova and Valentina Mankiyeva, participants explored the key thematic areas of the module, including current trends in NPS use, the epidemiology and classification of NPS, clinical manifestations of intoxication, emergency care, staff safety, harm reduction, prevention of infectious diseases, and client referral pathways.
A strong focus was placed on practical skills development. Participants tested situational case studies, role-play exercises and response algorithms for different NPS-related conditions. They also discussed approaches to intersectoral cooperation and client support across health, social and community-based services.
The pilot training provided an opportunity not only to test the content and structure of the module, but also to collect valuable feedback from participants. Their comments and recommendations will be used to further improve the programme and make it even more practical, relevant and responsive to the needs of professionals, services and communities.
We would like to thank all participants for their active engagement, professional contribution, openness to discussion and willingness to share their experience. This exchange of knowledge and practice is essential for developing effective responses to emerging challenges related to new psychoactive substances.
Through this initiative, ISSUP Kazakhstan reaffirm their commitment to supporting multidisciplinary, evidence-informed and community-oriented approaches to addressing substance use and related health and social issues in Kazakhstan.
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