High Level Drug Policy Makers Training
Date: November 09-10, 2023
Location: Lusaka, Republic of Zambia
On 9 and 10 November 2023, parallel to the African Union’s High-Level Session on addressing Substance Abuse and related Mental Disorders, UNODC facilitated a groundbreaking High Level Drug Policy Makers training. This insightful and reflective training was attended by high level drug policy makers from national drug control bodies of countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The training content focused on science-informed and evidence-based practices for drug use and drug use disorders and covered prevention interventions to aftercare and reintegration support and the various drug use service domains. The objective of the training was informing drug policy in the SADC region with evidence-based practices and to stimulate analytical and critical thinking among high level drug policy makers regarding effective drug policy.
The profound motto of the training: “each person counts” ensured that the training, although at a high drug policy level, focused on people who use drugs, families and communities impacted by drug use and drug use disorders. The training’s motto created remarkable synergy between high level drug policy and those in need of drug use services in SADC. The excitement in the training venue and eagerness to learn about and plan science-informed policies for drug use and drug use disorders were contagious. The training was facilitated by UNODC Chief of Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation section, Ms. Giovanna Campello, and training delegates were able to draw from her wealth of drug policy knowledge, experience, skills, and expertise.
All training delegates echoed the reflective words of one delegate: “This progressive training will go a long way in the SADC region”. Post this training, UNODC will continue to work closely with national drug control bodies in SADC and plan to build on this incredible capacity-building initiative. UNODC stands ready to provide further technical support and to avail science-informed programs and tools and herewith ensure that SADC accelerate the development and implementation of evidence-based policies for drug use and drug use disorders.
