On 3 July 2026, ISSUP held an International Experts Network Meeting, hosted by ISSUP Australia and ISSUP New Zealand, titled Implications and Opportunities for Capacity Building and Networking Arising from Developments in Drug Availability and Use, with a special focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

Held alongside the ISSDP 2026 Conference, the meeting brought together experts and representatives from ISSUP National Chapters across Asia and the Pacific to discuss emerging drug trends, identify regional priorities, and explore opportunities for collaboration and workforce development.

Hosted by ...

A new chapter in training has begun at ISSUP. A new Training Team has been formed with the goal of improving the accessibility and relevance of ISSUP’s training, while ensuring it reflects the learning needs of members worldwide.

In the early months of its work, the team carried out a training needs assessment to better understand members’ online learning needs. At the same time, the team engaged with several Learning Management System (LMS) providers to explore options for a new platform that supports accessible, high-quality learning. The proposals received are now being reviewed.

This...

We recently (15-19 September 2025) had the pleasure of attending the ISSUP Indonesia 2025 Regional Event , a dynamic gathering that convened policymakers, practitioners, academics, and civil society actors from across the globe. In this report, I reflect on the themes and discussions that resonated throughout the conference, with particular attention to the plenary sessions I had the privilege of moderating: Plenaries 3, 5, and 11.

The conference as a whole was marked by excellent participation, lively discussion, and an energetic exchange of ideas. Attendees were able to engage across a...

We’re excited to share that ISSUP has successfully launched the pilot of the Investing in Evidence-Based Prevention (IEP) Workshop, attended by 18 participants from 17 countries. The workshop was delivered in two online sessions, held on 14 and 21 August, bringing together policy-makers, decision-makers and funders. 

The IEP workshop was developed by Jeff Lee, and Rachele Donini, together with the Scientific Support Team (SST). The pilot was delivered by Rachele Donini as trainer. 

The first session, Introduction to Prevention Science, focused on the fundamentals of prevention...

This week, we say goodbye to our dear friend and mentor, Jeff Lee, the founding Executive Director of ISSUP. Jeff was a steadfast advocate for the professionalization of prevention, insisting that those working in this field should be appropriately specialized. He often reminded us that while generalists and treatment specialists are well-meaning and deeply embedded within their communities, they are not always best placed to develop and implement evidence-based prevention systems. Jeff emphasized that prevention must be treated as a distinct science—one that is grounded in rigorous research...