Cairo, Egypt – 4 June 2024
According to the World Drug Report 2023, nearly 275 million people worldwide used drugs in the previous year, with over 36 million suffering from drug use disorders, highlighting the global scale of the challenge. In Egypt, a country with a vast population and a significant youth demographic, drug treatment efforts take on a new form with the introduction of the Treatnet training package by UNODC, in cooperation with the Fund for Drug Control and Treatment of Addiction (FDCTA).
Treatnet is a set of training modules for drug dependence treatment consisting of an Introduction Module and 6 Volumes, covering a wide range of elements from screening and assessment to different treatment approaches and family therapy. This Treatnet training package is a central component of the UNODC's Treatnet initiative developed in 2008 by an international consortium of experts.
It has been instrumental in enhancing the knowledge and skills of professionals working in the field of substance use disorders.
The first Treatnet training in Egypt was built upon Volume B “Elements of Psychosocial Treatment” and Volume F “Treatnet Family” and specifically targeted 32 psychologists and psychiatrists, including young professionals, highlighting the pivotal role of younger generations in social development and the ongoing efforts against substance use disorders. This focus on youth underscores their critical importance not only as recipients of this advanced training but also as key agents of change within their communities.
"I want to be an influencer for youth (…) Now, we are ready to make comprehensive treatment programmes," says Mohamad, a doctor on duty, psychologist, and lecturer at a medical university in Suhag, who participated in the training.
UNODC plays a pivotal role in the international effort to prevent drug use and counter illicit trafficking while providing direct assistance to governments to help them address these issues, including the implementation of effective drug use treatment programmes that adhere to international standards and best practices.
Marwa, another specialist in substance use disorder treatment from FDCTA, shared her plans to apply the knowledge acquired from the training and noted that "after this training, I will apply more of the rapid assessment tool, brief interventions, and cognitive behavioral therapy; these are all the treatment tools."
The Treatnet training not only equipped the participants with specific tools but also built the foundation for further professional networking between them, enhancing their specialty areas, and paving the way forward. "We agreed to gather a network from psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers related to this assessment to exchange experiences in our area of specialty regularly for 3 months," Marwa adds, underlining the commitment to creating a professional community.
This training activity was part of the Youth 4 Impact programme to empower and build the resilience of youth against drugs, violence, and crime, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The programme is active in Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, and Sudan. In 2023, UNODC trained 110 medical professionals working with youth who use drugs under the “Youth 4 Impact” regional programme.
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