Training

Duration: 2 days (26th - 27th June ,2024)

Training Group: EMCDDA  

Training Language: English 

Description:  The course has been designed specifically to provide essential prevention knowledge to decision-, opinion- and policy-makers about the most effective evidence-based prevention interventions and approaches in order to facilitate well-informed choices about funding and implementation priorities.. 

Training objectives:  

1. To provide a concise but informative and practically useful overview on topics including etiology and epidemiology, school-, family-, workplace-, community-, media-based prevention, environmental prevention, advocacy and evaluation. 
2. To interact and build networks with prevention professionals across Europe and internationally. 

Duration: 5 days (From the 24th - 28th of June, 2024)

Trainers: 2 

Training Group: Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (DAP) & The Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS) 

Language: English

Description: The Global Forum for Youth Leaders on Drug Use Prevention (GOFORTH) is a gathering of youth ages 20-24 from all over the world to be trained in substance use prevention.  The primary objective of the forum is to build and maintain a youth network in substance use prevention. Young people are provided knowledge of substance use, its effects on young people and the science behind it, and the skills to develop youth-led initiatives in partnership with governments and civil societies. GOFORTH promotes information sharing, and innovative ways and identify strategies that will empower youth leadership in substance use prevention.

Training Objectives: 

1. Help participants understand and recognise the important role they play in establishing and sustaining prevention activities.
2. Provide participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively implement prevention interventions and policies.
3. Facilitate the formulation of appropriate youth-led school-based community-based action plans in substance use prevention.

Selection Criteria: 

• Students
  1. 20 – 24 years
  2. Currently enrolled in or completed one of the following areas of studies, including but not limited to:
     • Behavioural Sciences (Psychology, Counselling, Social Work, etc
     • Journalism and Mass Communication
     • Education
     • Management and related courses
  3. An elected/appointed official of an accredited students’ organisation or body
  4. Experience in volunteerism, substance use prevention, community engagement and social activism preferred

• Young professionals from government, non-governmental sectors, educational institutions, media and related agencies
  1. 20 – 24 years
  2. Minimum high school (equivalent to A levels or grade 12) qualification
  3. Minimum one year experience in substance use prevention field
  4. Experience in volunteerism, substance use prevention, community engagement and social activism preferred

• Additionally, the participants should:
  • Be fluent in English and their national language;
  • Be medically fit;
  • Possess good communication and feedback skills; and
  • Be committed to implement the project upon their return to their country.

For further queries, please contact dichen [dot] choden [at] colombo-plan [dot] org (dichen[dot]choden[at]colombo-plan[dot]org)

Duration: 5 days (from the 24th - 28th of June, 2024)

Trainers: 2

Training Group: Colombo Plan

Training Language: English

Description: This track reviews the science behind effective environment-based prevention interventions and policies – which focus on community-wide strategies to prevent tobacco and alcohol misuse; and illegal drug trafficking and use in various settings and the methods used to identify and successfully implement these interventions. It also provides experiential learning in planning for and implementing environmental policy changes and other community-wide substance use prevention efforts.

Pre - requisite: The UPC-10: Introduction to the Universal Prevention Curriculum Series for Practitioners is a pre-requisite for participation in this training workshop.

Training Objectives:

1. Increase knowledge about environmental approaches to preventing substance use and related problems.
2. Develop skills to strategically plan and implement environmental interventions.
3. Develop skills for monitoring and evaluation of environmental interventions.
4. Apply course concepts through Interactive group learning and skills.

Duration: Total 5 days (from the 24th - 28th of June, 2024)

Pilot Trainers: 2 

Training Group: Colombo Plan 

Training Language: English 

Description:  Announcing the introduction of a new course specifically for nurses - called the Universal Nurse Addiction Curriculum (UNAC) Series.  There are 27 million nurses working globally, which represents 50% of the global health workforce. Problematic substance use is singularly responsible for contributing to high levels of morbidity and mortality related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over any other specific behaviour. Nurses, when trained and supported, can optimize a wider public health demand reduction response framework to problematic substance use. This series of courses has been designed to increase the knowledge, skills and engagement of all nurses in the care of individuals, their families and communities impacted by substance use disorders. The content and methodology of the Universal Nursing Addiction Curriculum (UNAC) training series is designed to ensure that nurses develop a balanced perspective of the principles relating to both the science and art of caring for individuals and their communities affected by problematic substance use. 

This pilot series will be offered in two parts. The first course level 1 will be offered in person at ISSUP Greece. The second course level 2 will be offered online in the autumn of 2024. In this instance, those attending Level 1 at ISSUP Greece are expected to also participate in the Level 2 online course afterwards and will be required to meet Level 2 requirements. Thus, this course is only open to nurses working directly in addiction treatment services/centers. 

Specific requirements are below:

  Level 1 Pilot Requirements -  

•  Evidence of currently meeting the International Council of Nurses (ICN) definition of a nurse i.e. "The nurse is a person who has completed a program of basic, generalized nursing education and is authorized by the appropriate regulatory authority to practice nursing in his/her country.  

•  Evidence of current clinical experience working in general healthcare settings 

•  Evidence of proficient English Language skills:  IELTS 7.0 qualification (with a minimum of 7 in all sections) or TOEFL 94-101   

    Level 2 Pilot Requirements (additional to level 1 requirements):  

• Completion of Level 1 UNAC (Thessaloniki 2024, June - part 1) 
• Evidence of at least 12 months of continuous clinical practice in an addiction treatment setting   

ISSUP Greece will include a total of 16hrs training over the period of ISSUP Greece but as this is a 'pilot' we will also intersperse the training with the opportunity to assist the developers to refine the content for level 1 and influence the content for level 2.  We will also be introducing a 'mentorship module' alongside the level 1 course which aims to support the course participants in the period between the delivery of the 'in person course' for level 1 and the virtual online course for level 2.   

Duration: 5 days (From the 24th - 28th of June, 2024)

Trainers: 2

Training Group: Colombo Plan

Training Language: English

Description: These three courses of the Women’s Intervention for Substance Exposure : Comprehensive Care for Substance Use Disorder (WISE) aims at addressing the challenges found in treating women for substance use disorders. It aims to increase providers’ capacity to identify, assess and effectively treat women who have substance use disorders; explore the differences in treating men and women, and provide tools to identify, assess, and treat women for substance use disorders.

Pre-requisite: UTC-41: Clinical Care for Women with Substance Use Disorders is a pre-requisite for participation in this training workshop.

Training Objectives:

1. Articulate the elements of trauma-responsive care for women.
2. Identify the elements of attachment-based parenting and how they apply to family-centered care for women and their children.
3. Identify at least three ways substance use disorders affect women across the lifespan and three ways to respond.
4. Articulate the unique considerations, treatment needs, and ways to respond to women with substance use disorders in specialized circumstances.
5. Identify the key aspects to address when creating and implementing a women-responsive substance use disorder treatment model of care.

Duration: 5 days (From the 24th - 28th of June, 2024)

Trainers: 2

Training Group: Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS)

Training Language: English

Description: The Curriculum for Treating Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) was developed by the Executive Secretariat of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (ES-CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS) for its English-speaking Caribbean member states. In response to increasing concern over the global public health problem of substance use among adolescents, ES-CICAD worked with a panel of international experts from a broad range of specializations to revise, update, and expand the curriculum to serve the global drug treatment workforce working with adolescents in this field.

This Curriculum for Treating Adolescents with SUDs presents an approach to the treatment of adolescents with substance use disorders and addresses the main factors that place them at greater risk and vulnerability than other populations. This six-module program provides adolescent treatment professionals with tools to identify, assess, and treat adolescents through individual, family, and community interventions.

Module 1: Adolescent Development and Substance User

Module 2: Youth Made Vulnerable for Substance Use

Module 3: Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care

Module 4: Screening and Assessment

Module 5: Adolescent and Family Interventions

Module 6: Community Interventions

Duration: 5 days (From the 24th - 28th June, 2024)

Training Group: UNODC and Colombo Plan

Training Language: English

Description: This course, often referred to as “PEER,” provides a brief foundation that defines substance use disorders and recovery, and then provides the needed information about competencies and skills, including awareness of trauma-informed care, self-care, and boundary setting, to work successfully as a recovery support professional. Note: this course is created for those who already are working or want to work as a peer support professional and who are in sustained recovery for a minimum of two years from a substance use disorder. This course is also designed for those whose lives have been seriously impacted, either directly or indirectly, by the behavior of an individual with a substance use disorder and who have embarked on their own journey of recovery as a result. Such persons, which most often includes family members and significant others, are qualified to offer peer recovery support by virtue of their “shared personal experience” with addiction and recovery.

Duration: 5 days (From the 24th - 28th of June, 2024)

Training Group: UNODC and Colombo Plan

Training Language: English

Description: Like the PEER course, the Allies course does not require prerequisite training and is designed to be a stand-alone course so that recovery support professionals can be trained quickly in the field. The Recovery Allies course orients participants through a brief foundation that defines substance use disorders and recovery, and then provides the needed information about competencies and skills, including awareness of trauma-informed care, self-care, and boundary setting, to work successfully as a recovery support professional. Note: this course is created for those with an interest in working as a recovery support professional and who do NOT identify as being in recovery from a substance use disorder.

Duration: 3 days (From the 24th-26th June, 2024)

Training Group: Drug Free America Foundation, Inc.

Trainers: 2

Description:  A transformative training experience that equips participants with invaluable insights to empower their organizations. Dive into a comprehensive exploration of the key components and benefits of a drug-free workplace program. Our session goes beyond theory, providing practical steps and strategies to not only establish but also elevate your organization's commitment to a healthier, more vibrant work environment. Armed with this knowledge, attendees will confidently initiate informed discussions with management, supervisors, and fellow colleagues, fostering a workplace culture that thrives on well-being and productivity.

Training Goals: 

1. Describe the drug problem – globally and locally.
2. Explain how a DFWP complements other prevention efforts.
3. Identify the components of a DFWP.
4. Engage businesses and community leaders in efforts to implement DFWP.
5. Network with others engaged in establishing DFWP programs.

Duration: 3 days (From the 24th - 26th June, 2024)

Training Group: EU- Dap faculty

Training Language: English

Description: Unplugged is an evidence-based program with twelve sessions to prevent the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs by 10-14-year-old children. It has been developed and evaluated by the EU-Dap (Drug Abuse Prevention) trial group in seven European countries. In addition, it has been adapted and introduced in several other parts of the world outside the EU, including in Arabic-speaking countries, Latin America, Nigeria, Russia and Kyrgyzstan. It is currently being applied in more than thirty countries worldwide.

EU-Dap developed a 3-day training module for the teachers. Besides introducing the background and structure of the lessons, the training focuses on attitudes and methodology necessary to work with the life skills and comprehensive social influence model. The training is not only instructive but also highly interactive, and the participants are given the opportunity to practice parts of UNPLUGGED lessons and activities.

This training is open for:

• teachers with an interest in school-based prevention
• decision makers on school-based prevention to get a sense of the program (local, regional, national)
• prevention professionals in the prevention support system looking to get to know the program, and the project possibilities and improve their skill set

Training objectives:

1. Understand the comprehensive social influence model of Unplugged
2. Practice on quality implementation of Unplugged lessons
3. Discuss implementation issues and support

Duration: 1 day (24th of June ,2024)

Training Group: Joint program by the University of California San Diego, Department of Psychiatry and ICUDDR  

Training Language: English 

Description:  Many adults have a mental illness and a substance use disorder (co-occurring disorder, or COD). The presence of two or more disorders can complicate diagnosis and treatment. Integrating screening, diagnosis, and treatment for mental and substance use disorders leads to a better quality of care and improved health outcomes for those living with COD. 

Training objectives:  

1. Describe the philosophical conflicts and stigma accompanying dual diagnosis. 
2. Explain guiding principles for working with clients with COD. 
3. Identify different factors accompanying the need for integrated treatment systems and comprehensive care. 
4. Understand models and techniques for working with clients with COD. 

Title:  Policy Makers Training on the Nature, Prevention and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders 

Duration: 3 days (closed training)

Trainers: 2

Training Group: UNODC

Training Language: English

Description:  The UNODC Policymakers Training Package on the Nature, Prevention, and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders was developed in 2016, as part of UNODC's work in supporting Member States in their efforts to create humane, effective and evidence-based drug use prevention and drug dependence treatment and care services.

Training objectives:

This tool aims at supporting Member States in developing appropriate policies, strategies, programmes and interventions targeted at preventing drug use and increasing the availability of and access to comprehensive systems of care for people affected by drug use and drug use disorders. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to contribute to the efforts of Member States in building a health and human-rights-oriented response to the problem of drugs and to reduce the burden caused by associated health and social consequences.

Duration: 5 days

Trainers: 2 (English track) and 2 (Russian track)

Training Group: CADCA 

Description:  CADCA’s Training of Trainers (TOT) is designed to equip representatives from select countries with the skills, knowledge, and tools necessary to become effective Coalition Development Training (CDT) trainers in their respective countries. This TOT event kicks off a 2-year process to certify trainers from countries in the eastern hemisphere. This 5-day training provides a structured and interactive learning experience that includes a combination of theoretical knowledge, practical exercises, and peer-to-peer interaction necessary to train CADCA’s CDT curriculum. The TOT training focuses not only on the subject matter itself but also on the methodology and techniques for effective training delivery.