New prevention multipliers trained in São Paulo, Brazil

São Paulo, Brazil's largest city, hosted another ISSUP Workshop. The training took place from August 13 to 17, 2018 at the headquarters of Anhanguera University, one of the faculties of the Kroton Group of Education.

After a selection process, 77 professionals connected to the public and private services and of several areas of activity received the training of the first module of the Universal Prevention Curriculum.

This training is the result of a partnership between the FREEMIND Mobilization, the Colombo Plan and the International Society of Substances Use Professionals (ISSUP). The work of ISSUP in Brazil is coordinated by FREEMIND.

The course, "Introduction to the Prevention Science, lasted 40 hours and provides an overview of the science underlying evidence-based prevention interventions and strategies and the application of effective approaches to prevention practice. In addition to Prevention Science, the workshop also sought to develop skills and training techniques that are important traits for multipliers.

The course, which was developed by prevention experts, provided important information on what works with regard to substance use prevention, as guided by international standards of prevention. Concepts on epidemiology, vulnerability to the use of substances, risk factors and protection, environmental influences and the etiology model.

The general objective of these courses is to assist in the development of prevention professionals so that they can implement interventions and prevention policies that are more effective and proven by science.

This training, under the coordination of FREEMIND / ISSUP Brazil, was a mandatory step and essential requirement for the participation of the second stage that was held in Campos do Jordão in September of this year.

With the completion of this continuing education, many positive and promising expectations for Brazil arise in order to place its prevention interventions to a higher level of quality and impact. The goal of ISSUP Brazil is to train at least 10,000 professionals in Brazil within a period of one year.