On the 15th February 2018 Botswana held a graduation ceremony for the first cohort of locally trained Internationally Certified Addiction Professionals (ICAP) in the Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC). The event was officiated by the then Minister of Health and Wellness Honourable Dorcas Makgatho, and graced by the United States of America Ambassador to Botswana, His Excellency Earl Miller as well as other delegates from both the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and the United States Embassy.
The other day I had a conversation with a colleague over engagement of former drug users in drug demand reduction (DDR). My submission was that such practice, even though done by many, is not evidence based as no study whatsoever has affirmed the success of such practice. A program that works for DDR is the one that uses interactive methods, have weekly structured sessions and is delivered by a trained professional and/or peer!
