ISSUP Nigeria Knowledge Update Series (30th Session): Integrated Behavioural Health Approaches In Substance Use Disorder Prevention, Treatment And Recovery: Bridging Gaps In Service Delivery

ISSUP Nigeria would like to invite you to the 30th session of its bi-monthly webinar in the Knowledge Update Series. This webinar will focus on the topic 'Integrated Behavioural Health Approaches In Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Prevention, Treatment And Recovery: Bridging Gaps In Service Delivery'.

Date: 25th November 2025

Time: 3:00 PM WAT | 2:00 PM London | 9 AM ET

Register for the Webinar

This webinar explores the integration of behavioural health into substance use prevention, treatment and recovery systems, with emphasis on culturally responsive, family-centred and community-driven models. It highlights how integrated care improves treatment engagement, enhances outcomes, reduces stigma and supports holistic healing for individuals and communities facing SUD.

Discussion Topics:

• Strengthening collaborative care models to address co-occurring disorders
• Tackling fragmentation and improving continuity across behavioural health and addiction services
• Expanding routine behavioural health screening and early intervention in primary care
• Integrating trauma-informed practices in prevention, treatment and recovery settings
• Ensuring cultural competence in SUD care delivery across diverse Nigerian populations
• Monitoring and evaluating integrated systems for measurable recovery outcomes
• Building a skilled and sustainable behavioural health workforce
• Leveraging community-based interventions, peer support networks and technology to close service gaps

Relevance and Significance:

• Integrated behavioural health is vital for addressing the growing burden of co-occurring mental health challenges and substance use disorders. In Nigeria, limitations in access, stigma, insufficient workforce and fragmented services often delay care and worsen outcomes. Strengthening IBH approaches:
• Promotes a unified, person-centred model of care across prevention, treatment and recovery
• Enhances practitioners’ capacity to deliver holistic and evidence-based interventions
• Supports ongoing national efforts toward mental health reform and improved service coordination
• Advances ISSUP Nigeria’s mission of knowledge sharing, collaboration and workforce development
• Helps communities build resilience while reducing relapse and long-term harm

Target Audience:

• Young people, public health professionals, addiction counsellors, healthcare providers, policymakers, anyone working in substance use care settings.

Learning Outcomes:

Following this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the principles and benefits of integrated behavioural health for SUD prevention and treatment.

2. Identify barriers to coordination and propose practical solutions for seamless service delivery.

3. Describe the importance of screening and early detection in reducing SUD risks.

4. Apply trauma-informed strategies to strengthen recovery engagement and outcomes.

5. Demonstrate cultural sensitivity in interventions within diverse Nigerian communities.

6.  Use measurable indicators to monitor and improve integrated behavioural health services.

7.  Discuss workforce needs and capacity-building strategies for sustainable IBH implementation.

8. Recognize the essential role of community engagement, peer support and digital tools in recovery pathways.

Presenter:

Dr. Mohammed Audu

Dr. Mohammed Audu is a distinguished Nigerian mental health advocate, psychotherapist, and community wellness leader. He is the visionary founder of the Dr. Mohammed Audu Foundation & Rehabilitation Centre (DMA Foundation), a pioneering organization dedicated to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and holistic recovery. With a deep commitment to culturally responsive care, Dr. Audu has championed integrated behavioural health models that address the complex needs of individuals and communities affected by addiction and mental health challenges.

He serves as Vice President and National Coordinator of Integrated Health Care for Community Wellness Limited, where he leads initiatives that bridge clinical care with grassroots engagement. As Registrar of the Psychotherapeutic & Counselling Research Institute (PCRI Nigeria), Dr. Audu plays a key role in advancing the counselling profession and setting standards for ethical practice and research in Nigeria.

Dr. Audu’s work emphasizes the importance of reducing stigma, promoting community-based recovery, and fostering resilience through education, advocacy, and evidence-based interventions. His leadership has earned him recognition across Nigeria and beyond, positioning him as a thought leader in behavioural health integration and recovery systems. Through his foundation and professional roles, Dr. Audu continues to inspire transformative change in mental health care and substance use recovery.

Moderators:

Dr. Olajumoke Koyeojo
Director, ISSUP Nigeria Chapter 

Ejikeme M. Ogueji
Head, Editorial and Webinar Team, ISSUP Nigeria Chapter

References:

• Timko, C., & Cucciare, M. A. (2019). Behavioral health approaches to preventing and treating substance use disorders. In Foundations of Behavioral Health (pp. 45–70). Springer.

• ISSUP Nigeria. (2025). Exploring the intersection of substance use and mental health in Nigeria. International Society of Substance Use Professionals Nigeria Chapter.

• Grant, S., Colaiaco, B., Motala, A., Shanman, R., Booth, M., & Sorbero, M. (2017). Mindfulness-based relapse prevention for substance use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 11(5), 386–396. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0000000000000326

• World Health Organization. (2022). Integration of mental health and substance use services: Global policy guidance. Geneva: WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240054039

• National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023). Principles of drug addiction treatment: A research-based guide (3rd ed.). https://nida.nih.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition

• Audu, M. (2025). Integrated behavioural health in Nigeria: Bridging clinical and community care. PCRI Nigeria Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling

   

Webinars and online events delivered and hosted by the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) are provided for informational purposes only. They are educational in nature and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.