Addiction Conference 2021 Report
Addiction 2021 Online Conference, Igniting a movement for Change
The ADDICTION 2021 ONLINE CONFERENCE, conducted from July 21 to 23, 2021, was the largest centrally controlled addiction treatment effort on the African continent. Thanks to the exceptional material and conversations, as well as the technological breakthroughs demonstrated by our usage of an exciting new online platform, the conference was described as world-class, ground-breaking, and inventive.
The South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA), one of the country's largest non-profit organizations dedicated to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse problems, pioneered the initiative, which has 31 treatment centers across the country's nine provinces. This conference sparked a movement that brought together the unique skills and perspectives of like-minded individuals who are committed to discovering socially inclusive, responsive, and personalised solutions to addiction. We can move forward and achieve complete solutions for addictive disorders by working together, with contributions from academics, medical professionals, civil society, policymakers, law enforcement, activists, service users, and a wide range of public and community-based resources. The conference's overall goal was to combat stigma and discrimination towards persons who use substances.
This conference had 610 participants from 41 nations, as well as 95 presenters from around the world. The continual engagement and events planned for the following 24 months, leading up to the ADDICTION 2022 Conference, will facilitate a level of participation not normally possible with regular conferences, allowing for even more innovation. The way conferences are held has changed over time. Professionals from all around the world may now share their expertise, skills, and experience with delegates, better connecting us at a time when many people are feeling increasingly alone and unconnected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The presenters, supporting organizations, and the enthusiastic and engaged delegates who joined the movement were instrumental in igniting this movement. Over the course of the three-day event, 469 exhibition brochures were downloaded, and 890 people visited the various exhibition stands. The African Union Commission's funding helped with the conference's translation into several languages and supported the event through co-planning. For endorsing the event and offering crucial support and inputs, we thank INL ITTC, ISSUP Global, UCT, CADCA, and CICAD.
The conference was opened by Hon. Miss Lindiwe Zulu, South Africa's Minister of Social Development, on the theme of Drug Demand Reduction in South Africa, harnessing collaboration and collaborative efforts between the State and other stakeholders. The meeting came to a close. Dr. Mathume Joseph Phaahla, South Africa's Minister of Health, acknowledged the conference panelists, noting that he had listened to the presentations and discussions that took place throughout the conference. He also stated that the conference's debates and resolutions would inform the South African Department of Health's policy on substance misuse. Minister Phaahla also congratulated the panelists on a favourable outcome. He praised the initiative, saying that substance abuse is a big problem in South Africa and around the world.
At the event, the ISSUP SA Chapter was formally launched, and it was a huge success, with over 120 new professionals registering on the site. This was made possible by early sponsorship from ISSUP Global, which was one of the conference's first endorsers and supported with the event's promotion to all professionals around the world.
The following are the conference's resolutions:
- Resolution 1: Access to adequate treatment
- Resolution 2: Research gaps
- Resolution 3: Moving from punishment to public health approach to reduce stigma
- Resolution 4: SUD, dual diagnosis, co-occurring disorders, and cross addictions
- Resolution 5: Capacity building of the SUD workforce
- Resolution 6: Positioning Prevention Services as a science
- Resolution 7: Enhance coordination and collaboration
- Resolution 8: Policy and Legislation changes
Finally, SANCA would like to acknowledge the Conference and our collaborative success in igniting a change movement through the approval of clearly stated Conference resolutions. The aim now is to keep the momentum going into the 2nd ADDICTION Conference, which will take place from June 27-29, 2023, and at which time we will assess how far the resolutions have been implemented.
SANCA attentively considered the feedback and needs provided by attendees and stakeholders at the recent ADDICTION 2021 Conference. Several requests for a deeper dive into preventative and treatment methods, as well as professional capacity building in the treatment of Substance Use Disorders, have been received. For this reason, SANCA is glad to announce that, in the years between the ADDICTION Conferences, the ADDICTION Practitioners Forum will help to advance the change movement. On the 28th and 29th of June 2022, the ADDICTION Practitioners Forum 2022 will be presented as an online CPD event in collaboration with ITTC and the ISSUP SA Chapter.
Please make a note of this date in your calendar!
