Under the heading “Uniting the Global Community to Face the Challenge of Addiction,” the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), together with the International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR), the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and the National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) is organizing a global in-person and online event from May 11–16, 2022, in Abu Dhabi. The event, which comprises a conference, trainings, and networking opportunities, will bring the latest learning from the fields of substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support and allow interested participants from all over the world to meet and exchange ideas and information.
The event will include an in-person 3-day conference, with keynote speakers sharing the latest developments from the field. Sub-plenaries will focus on topics of relevance and pertinence to the drug demand reduction workforce whose work continues despite the challenges of COVID-19. The conference will be complemented by a week-long stream both of sessions from the in-person conference and of presentations that provide updates on the substance use situation and responses from around the world.
The event will also offer the opportunity to participate in in-person training on a range of topics, and the exams for International Certified Addiction Professional (ICAP) credentials, including:
- Universal Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Curricula – offered by Colombo Plan/NRC
- Treating Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders – offered by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD)
- Policymaker Training – offered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- Community Coalitions – offered by the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA)
- Global Trainers – offered by UNODC
- Youth Forum
The event will provide numerous networking opportunities at side meetings, networking events, forums, and social activities. These will allow for deepening professional relationships and important discussions on addiction policy, practice, and research.
The event is free. Check this webpage for updates to the program and further information.