100 Drug Dependence Treatment Practitioners Trained : UNODC

The Country Office, United Nations Office on Drug and Crimes (UNODC) has successfully imparted training to 100 drug dependence treatment practitioners on Basic Level of Universal Treatment Curriculums (UTC).

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Sep, 2018 ) :The Country Office, United Nations Office on Drug and Crimes (UNODC) has successfully imparted training to 100 drug dependence treatment practitioners on Basic Level of Universal Treatment Curriculums (UTC).

The UTC (1-8) includes 4A and then to have a cadre of Pakistan National Trainers on Basic Level UTC (1-8) and to support credentialing by International Centre for Credentialing and education of Addiction Professionals (ICCE) through Training of Trainers (ToT).

Held recently in Lahore and Karachi, these training will be completed by January 2019 and followed up by a refresher course leading to certification to International Certified Addiction Professional (ICAP).

The successful candidates will be able to attend ToT, to increase and strengthen services on drug dependence treatment in the country.

As per details, a total of 37 participants attended the two trainings in Lahore from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) while training in Karachi was attended by 28 drug treatment professionals from Sindh and Balochistan.

These trainings were planned with coordination of Universal Training Curriculum (UTC) selection committee comprised of representatives from Ministry of Narcotics Control (MNC), Anti Narcotics Force (ANF), Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), Health and UNODC.

The trainings were interactive using adult learning methodology. It was a learners centre approach, utilizing various tools group work, brain storming, question answer sessions, pair work, role plays, reflective practice and energizers by the trainers as mentioned in manual.

A special care was given to fidelity in line with training manual and feedback was also given as per need.

The training evaluation was conducted at various levels by including a pre-post evaluation questionnaire prepared by UNODC Monitoring and Evaluation Unit with help of trainers for each group to assess knowledge of participants; and evaluation at different levels by trainers.

After completing UTC 1 & 2 all participants will be offered the nearest (geographical location) training location out of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi for rest of UTC trainings.

It merits mentioned here that since 2010, the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) has supported development of global training series appropriate for certification of addiction professionals in South Asia region.

The overall goal of training series has been to reduce significant health, social, and economic problems associated with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) by building international treatment capacity through training, professionalizing, and expanding the global treatment workforce.

The training prepares counselors and other health providers for professional certification at entry level, by providing the latest information about SUDs and their treatment.

The current two years project is supported by Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).