Learning about Psychosocial Intervention and Support for Drug dependence

While Afghanistan is accounted for 85% of global opium production in 2020 that makes it a supplier for 80% of all opiate users in the world, drug use also poses a huge challenge in a country with limited drug treatment options.

UNODC Country Office for Afghanistan (COAFG) continues its support to strengthen drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, and harm reduction programmes based on scientific evidence, human rights, and gender consideration within the framework of Sustainable Trust Fund for Afghanistan (STFA).STFA was established to help address basic human needs in Afghanistan, complementing the immediate, ongoing, humanitarian response combining resources, experience and collective knowledge of UN agencies, funds, and programmes.

A four-day training on Psychosocial Intervention and Support for Drug dependence was conducted in Kabul from 20 to 23 of March 2022 bringing together 18 technical staff (nine males and eight females) from different professional disciplines (including doctors, nurses, psychological counselors, and managers) from two local organizations, Youth Health and Development Organization based in Kandahar and Health Care and Social Development Organization based in Mazar-i-Sharif.

The objective of the training was to promote human-rights and science-based interventions and to improve psychological interventions, drug prevention treatment and rehabilitation services for people with drug use disorders.

Participants had an opportunity to hear about drug addiction and treatment approaches as well as basic counselling for dependance treatment and to practice their new skills though group work such as role play.

“It was the first time we had the opportunity to attend such training combining theoretical and practical approaches. We have learned counselling skills and technique and most importantly how to support families though family education programme on caring children during crisis and conflict” said Mr. Ghulam Rasool, counsellor in Health Care and Social Development Organization. “After this training, I feel more confident to work with the patient” he added. 

This training will allow local organizations to start the implementation qualitative drug use prevention and psychosocial support services in their respective region in the coming weeks contributing to improve quality of life, health and livelihoods of individuals and families at risk or affected by drug use and its negative health and social consequences.