Colombo, Sri Lanka    18-26 January 2020

By Rogers Kasirye

The workshop started on 18th January organized by Colombo/ INL for the support in undertaking the training programme for Afghanistan entitled Training on the Universal Curriculum for Substance Use - Implementers Series (UPC1), core course for Afghanistan Cohort 2. The participants who attended the workshop were to be equipped with skills, correct attitude and knowledge with regard to the Science of substance use prevention. The facilitators Dr. Isabel Melgar (Philippines) and Rogers Kasirye (Uganda) and Farhad Akabari from...

The Education and Training Unit of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) organised training on “UTC 06- Case Management for Addiction Professionals and UTC 07- Crisis Intervention for Addiction Professionals” for 28 staff members of the NDDCB which was held on 17th – 19th December 2019 at NDDCB Auditorium.

The training followed the international curriculum UTC 6 and UTC 7 that was developed for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in collaboration with the Colombo Plan. The goals of the training were to expand the...

In order to appropriately address the concerning global levels of substance use and substance use disorders, it is vital that staff are trained to deliver evidence-based treatment.

At the start of November 2019, the Education and Training Unit of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board conducted training on Basic Counseling Skills for 28 staff members of the NDDCB.

The training followed the UTC 04- Basic Counseling Skills for Addiction Professionals, which was developed for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) in collaboration...

Prevention of drug abuse and HIV for G.C.E A/L students have conducted a prevention program on drug abuse and HIV for the G.C.E A/L students of the Kalmunai zone with the permission of the Education Ministry of Srilanka. The program was conducted by the Lions Club and the Rotary Club. Delegates from the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board and Alcohol and Drug Information Center participated as the resource personals. This is the 18th program of this series. Previous programs were conducted covering the entire island in Tamil and Sinhala medium for the same age group. 

New research explores some of the long-term impacts of marijuana use in families. The study revealed that the children of parents who reported marijuana use during their teenage years were significantly more likely to report substance use than the children of those who did not. 

The results also indicated that children whose parents reported a history of marijuana use later on in adulthood had children slightly more likely to have lower grades and attentional difficulties, but who were no more likely to report substance use than their peers.