UNODC Supports Central Asia States to Create Societies Resilient to Drugs and Crime

UNODC in partnership with the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section of UNODC HQ gathered some 25 regional and national experts representing health, social and justice professionals at a five-day training “Creating Societies Resilient to Drugs and Crime” in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

A “Treatnet Family” training package for youths and families affected by drug use or drug use disorders is set to increase the level of knowledge and skills of professionals working in the field of substance use disorders and is a unique tool to assist partners in their efforts to improve quality of drug treatment services.

This training package covers a wide range of topics and aims to remove barriers to low-cost, effective and evidence-based drug treatment services in developing countries by helping create the human resource capacity required to provide diversified, effective and quality drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation services.

“The teenage years are a critical window of vulnerability to substance use disorders, because the brain is still developing, and some brain areas are less mature than others”, said Mr. Borikhan Shaumarov, Senior Programme Officer of UNODC ROCA during opening ceremony. “Many factors influence whether an adolescent tries drugs, including the availability of drugs within the neighbourhood, community, and school and whether the adolescent’s friends are using them. The family environment is also important: Violence, physical or emotional abuse, mental illness, or drug use in the household increase the likelihood an adolescent will use drugs”, Mr. Shaumarov sighted.

UNODC International Master Trainers: Dr. Laurie Lopez Charles and Dr. Leckraz Boyjoonauth taught participants the elements of family therapy for treatment for substance use disorders; how to deliver training to health professionals in the respective field. Trainers also explained how to use the main practitioner’s manual of the “Treatnet Family” training package to roll the programme out in Central Asia Countries afterwards.

According to Dr. Leckraz Boyjoonauth, training participants are very enthusiastic and well experienced. “Hopefully the training will help them to bring knowledge back to their agencies to introduce transformation and to introduce family therapy. We hope they became Champions and Advocates of changes in their place of work”.

The event is a part of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2015-2021 conducted in collaboration with UNODC-WHO Programme on drug dependence treatment and care (GLOK32) with financial support from the Government of the Russian Federation.

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist at

UNODC ROCA

+996775987817 WhatsApp/ Cellphone

vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org