Shared by James Harvey
(ISSUP staff) - 3 September 2020
Event Date
Location:
Johannesburg
South Africa
The First Plenary Session of the 'Drug Demand Reduction in Africa: Prevention, Treatment and Epidemiology' Virtual Conference from 16th September to 10th November 2020.
In early March, 2020, the world was hit by a pandemic of COID-19, which has affected the lives of millions global.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus and spreads primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze. It also spreads when a person touches a surface or objects that has the virus on it, and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.
The government through the ministry of health adopted preventive stay home measures which limited nearly all physicalinteraction activities...
The COVID 19 pandemic globally has had a devastating negative impact especially in low income countries like Uganda who have fragile health system and can’t manage many cases. Governments declared lockdown and everything stood at stand still for over 75 days. Children and their families depending on small informal business closed, capital eaten up and didn’t know what to happen next.
Our entire 9 Drop in centers/safe spaces were closed and over 2000 slum youth and poor children scattered and a few went home. We received distress calls from some our young people we serve...
Mr. Kasirye Rogers attended a meeting on drug prevention in conjunction with the 23rd Sessions of the Commission of Narcotic Drugs (CND 2-6 March, 2020 in Vienna Austria). It was organized by Drug Free America Foundation Inc., a world drug abuse prevention leader with over five divisions in drug abuse policy work.
The focus of the meeting was to get an opportunity to share our concerns and views at several meetings alongside the CND, network with like-minded organizations as well as share and learn the effects substance misuse has on other cultures and regions and educate each other on the...
PRESS RELEASE RE: Alcohol and COVID-19; Two pandemics colliding
Introduction:
In Uganda we have seen a spike and unprecedented levels of drinking leading to increase in domestic violence and addiction levels. Some men are spending more time drinking and hence diverting money meant for food to buying alcohol. Facts about alcohol in relation to COVID 19
a) Consuming high-strength alcohol does not kill the COVID-19 virus. If adulterated with methanol, can result in severe health consequences, including death.
b) Alcohol is not a food stuff
c) Alcohol is...
Shared by James Harvey
(ISSUP staff) - 19 May 2020
This free webinar-based training course on Motivational Interviewing (MI) is presented by Igor Koutsenok, MD, MS, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry.
Motivational Interviewing is an essential, client-centered, counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. We are absolutely thrilled to bring you this skills-building opportunity presented by a recognized expert in the field of MI.
The course consists of four sessions (originally held during June 2020).
Shared by James Harvey
(ISSUP staff) - 30 April 2020
Event Date
Location:
Webinar
Presenters: Drs. Chia Francis and Mashika Esther
This webinar will illuminate the level of drug use in Nigeria, efforts made so far to address access to drug abuse treatment services in Nigeria, and details of a study regarding access...
Interactive Dialogues are a series of virtual meetings hosted by USAPA in order to foster the spread of ideas and greater connection among those working in the field of alcohol policy. The Interactive Dialogues are intended to create a space where members of community alcohol and other drug coalitions, local and state public health departments, and other ATOD prevention and public health practitioners can gather and discuss timely alcohol policy issues. Sessions will include a panel of 2-3 people with expertise on the...
The Smart Club Contract Concept: An Evidence-Based Primary Prevention Method for Children in East Africa
by Lubega Andrew (UYDEL)
The Contract Concept is a means or tools for children and adolescents to lead better lives with Human Rights, better school attendance and results and growing up without the burden of alcohol/drugs and other substances.
SMART’s contract method is locally based and includes components such as
individual contracts with participating children / adolescents
guardian's written approval
temporary membership
voluntarily to be a member (or abstain) and the...
Shared by James Harvey
(ISSUP staff) - 13 March 2020
Format
ISSUP Webinar
Published by / Citation
ISSUP
This webinar focuses on the issue of self-care for addiction professionals and was delivered by ICUDDR Deputy Director Cary Hopkins Eyles.
Many of us are drawn to work in the field of substance use disorders due to our history, family, and personal traits, such as compassion and empathy. While these can be great assets, they can also be detrimental to us personally.
In this webinar, Cary explains how to identify healthy and unhealthy traits, how we can care for ourselves, and what authentic self-care looks like.
Cary has worked in the field of substance use disorders for 18 years. She...
We need to work together to ensure that the various myths held by young people in the community are addressed in order to create a safe and secure environment free from alcohol and drugs.
Many young people who want to be good at music think that doing drugs will get them there easily however this is not the case, talent is God given and if you have it you do not need alcohol/drugs, you just need to work hard and harder and push your music and the people will appreciate you for who you really are.
The Church of Uganda has instituted a programme that will help young people to protect themselves from alcoholism and drug abuse. The programme Drug Free Schools was launched by the outgoing Arch Bishop , the Most Rev. Stanley Ntagali, at Mengo Senior School on Saturday the 15th of February 2020. Speaking to students, teachers and partners that graced the function, Ntagali said that drug abuse among young people in schools was on rise, which was why the Church had decided to act against the vice.
The Coordinator of the Church of Uganda ‘Drug –Free Schools’ Programme, Ezra Tumuhirwe, said...
THE WORLD FEDERATION AGAINST DRUGS’ REGIONAL FORUM TO BE HELD ON 6th FEBRUARY, 2020
The World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD) is holding this year’s first Regional Forum in the East African Region. The Forum will be taking place on the 6th of February, 2019 in Kampala Uganda and it will be hosted by Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL). WFAD has over 40 member organizations in the East-African Region, who all do fantastic work within prevention, drug addiction treatment and/or recovery and this is why the forum was hosted in East Africa. The World Federation Against Drugs is a multilateral...
The Zoom meeting was hosted by Jeff Lee who invited the African National Chapters to be part of the meeting. The meeting was held on Tue Jan 14, 2020 2pm – 3pm (EAT). Uganda National Chapter was represented by Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL) i.e. Mr. Rogers Mutaawe, Mr. Andrew Lubega and Ms. Barbara Nakijoba.
Issues discussed included;
Review of minutes from last meeting and the future process
Updates on African Regional NC Activity (please provide a brief input on your activity or any issues, questions you may have on your operation...
A preparatory meeting was held on 29th November 2019 at UYDEL office and they discussed about recruitment of members, updating of Uganda ISSUP website, the work plan for 2020, Launch of the ISSUP Chapter in April 2020 and future plans. The meeting also agreed to hold an initial meeting with identified members on 12th of December 2019 to get more input from members on the best way to run the ISSUP Chapter.
Psychoactive substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) continue to be major problems around the world, taking a toll on global health and on social and economic functioning. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that, in 2015, about 250 million people between ages 15 and 64 used illicit substances at least once. Of those who use psychoactive substances, a significant number will develop substance use problems or SUDs. The 2015 UNODC survey found that about 29.5 million substance users suffer from SUDs, which means their use is harmful to the point they may...