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WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATE COURSE ON

Understanding Addiction Science

UTC - Curriculum 1
Integrating Preventive Drug Education for Students  

Organised by :
Ecolink Institute of Well-being, India 

(Approved Training Provider of the Colombo Pan and ISSUP- Global) 

Curriculum developed by:

The Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program &

INL, US Department of State 

 

Course endorsed by 

The International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR)

Our Trainers:

Colombo Plan Certified Global Trainers

Registration form for optional certificates 

Why choose us?

  • Internationally recognized Evidence-based curriculum.

  • International award winner for “Excellence in Training Provision” (by ISSUP-Global, 2022) 

  • Globally renowned expert trainers.

  • Membership with ISSUP with certificate

  • Enhanced CV with a global certification

  • International Alumnus from more than 20 countries  

  • Over 250 pages of Resource materials funded by the US Government

  • Make a positive impact on your community.

"Share Facts, Save Lives" - the powerful slogan of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking observed annually on June 26 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In line with this global initiative, Ecolink Institute proudly presents a highly regarded Certificate course, "Introduction to Psychoactive Substances and the Science of Addiction." Led by renowned global trainers, this course offers comprehensive insights into the world of psychoactive substances and addiction.

Highlights

  • Classes are offered Online as instructor-led live sessions.

  • Sessions by ICAP Certified Global Master Trainers of the Colombo Plan  

  • Medium of Instruction: ENGLISH 

 

Course Fees:

  • 1.5 to 6 hours (Subjected to change depending on the current plan) of expert-led Free sessions

  • Optional certificate of completion (₹200 only)

  • Click here for Payment info with Application form 

  • Access to a 250-page illustrated resource manual

  • A minimum attendance of 80% is mandatory to receive the Certificate of Completion.

Stories from around the Globe 

Regina Nova Indradewi.jpeg

Regina Nova Indradewi,

Jakarta, Indonesia

"A great experience as well as very rewarding. At first I was worried because of language barriers, but it seemed that my ...

Anacleto Clent Banaay Jr.jpeg

Anacleto Clent Banaay Jr, Cebu, Philippines

"The online UTC course gave me the opportunity to learn addiction management in a wider perspective ( international perspective).....

Odireleng Kasale-Botswana.jpeg

Odireleng Kasale, Botswana, South Africa

"I enrolled to the course very last minute after stumbling across the autumn mind on the ISSUP Facebook page. From....

content
Introduction

Introduction

Welcome to our comprehensive course that addresses the pressing issue of drug prevalence, use, and addiction among today's youth, with a specific focus on the student community. Drug use is often associated with notions of fun, curiosity, peer pressure, celebrations, stress, or easy availability. However, it is crucial to recognize that drug use can escalate into abuse and addiction, profoundly impacting the lives of young individuals and giving rise to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, and even violent episodes.

 

Substance use disorder, classified as a major global mental health issue, leads to millions of deaths annually and gives rise to various health-related ailments. The World Drug Report 2022 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reveals that approximately 35.6 million people worldwide suffer from drug use disorders. Additionally, alcohol use accounts for over 3 million deaths each year, while tobacco-related ailments claim the lives of nearly 8 million individuals globally.

 

Understanding addiction to psychoactive substances is essential, as it is a complex brain disease intertwined with both physical and psychological co-occurring disorders. Given the complexity of addiction, the path to recovery is equally challenging. Hence, our course emphasizes the significance of prevention, highlighting the adage that prevention is better than cure.

The Resource persons
What the participants gain
The Training Design
Training goals
Proposed starting Date

This course offers a comprehensive overview of the physiology and pharmacology of psychoactive substances, exploring their effects on the brain and how they influence mood, cognition, and behavior. We delve into the consequences of substance abuse on individuals, families, and communities. Furthermore, we provide in-depth knowledge about the science of addiction, along with valuable insights on screening and brief intervention techniques, managing co-occurring mental and medical disorders, and equipping young individuals with effective prevention tools to steer clear of harmful substances. 

Training goals: 

  • To provide participants with an understanding of the physiology of addiction as a brain disease;  

  • To provide participants with information about the pharmacology of psychoactive substances. 

  • To provide participants with an understanding of co-occurring disorders and the process of treatment for SUDs. 

The Training Design: 

The trainers will provide a specific agenda for each module under the Curriculum with trainer-led presentations and discussions, frequent use of creative learner-directed activities, small-group and partner-to-partner exercises and presentations,  reflective writing exercises, periodic reviews to enhance learning retention, and learning assessment exercises. Your active participation is essential to making this a positive and productive learning experience! 

The Resource persons:

At our institute, we are proud to have a team of globally certified trainers for the Universal Treatment Curricula. Our trainers bring extensive expertise in the field, backed by numerous hours of training and counselling experience across various countries worldwide. With their wealth of knowledge and practical insights, they are equipped to deliver top-notch education and guidance to our participants. You can trust in the expertise and professionalism of our trainers as they help you navigate the complexities of addiction treatment and prevention.

  1. Dr Thirumagal V., Global Master Trainer, Colombo Plan 

  2. Ms Aditi Ganekar, Global Master Trainer, Colombo Plan 

  3. Dr Damber Nirola, Psychiatrist and Master Trainer, Government of Bhutan 

  4. Mr Francis Moothedan, Global Master Trainer, Colombo Plan 

  5. Dr Thomas Scaria, ICAP Certified Addiction Trainer & Director, Ecolink 

  6. Ms Reshma Malick, ICAP Certified Addiction Trainer  

  7. Dr Yetan Pal Singh, Psychiatrist AIIMS New Delhi 

Moderator: Dr Thomas Scaria, ICAP Certified Addiction Trainer & Director, Ecolink

The Syllabus (Curricula and Modules)

The syllabus is designed by international experts based on evidence-based approaches and years of research. The overall goal of the training series is to reduce the 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. 

Curriculum 1:

Physiology and Pharmacology for Addiction Professionals​

Module 1—Training Introduction

Module 2—Introduction to Psychoactive Substance Use 

Module 3—The Science of Addiction

1be497862a7a1e345d2d689b8951ee7a-0-min.j
Curriculum 1
  • Module 1 looks at the global scenario of addiction, some data, the relevance of the course and an introduction to the course. 

  • Module 2 looks at characteristics of drugs that can lead to addiction, the involvement 

  • of the central nervous system, and how routes of administration change the effect of 

  • the drugs. 

  • Module 3 presents a definition of addiction as a brain disease, how it affects brain communications, progress and signs of addiction, etc.  

Curriculum 2
Curriculum 3
Curriculum 4
Curriculum 5
Curriculum 6
Curriculum 7
Curriculum 8
Methodology for training

Background of the Universal Treatment Curriculum:

The Universal Treatment Curriculum for Substance Use Disorders is an 8 Curricula syllabus with 48 modules developed for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) by global experts.

Background of the Agencies:

Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program: 

https://dap-colomboplan.org 

The Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program (CPDAP) was established in 1973, as the Colombo Plan’s response to the growing drug-related concerns in the Asia-Pacific region. CPDAP is the oldest Colombo Plan program, which has completed 50 years as an inter-governmental organization to counter substance use disorder. Recognizing the importance of cooperation among agencies, CPDAP brings together government, non-government and international organizations to identify gaps in Drug Demand and Supply Reduction and come up with a coordinated and unified response to the health and social problems related to Substance Use Disorders. As a pioneer in drug demand reduction in the region, CPDAP has assisted the Colombo Plan member countries in drug policy formulation, encouraging national efforts in drug demand and supply reduction programs. CPDAP also advocates for the use of evidence-based practices in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and prevention and empowers SUD professionals through the provision of technical assistance. Ecolink Institute is an approved training provider by ISSUP-Global. 

The International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) (https://www.issup.net)

The International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals (ISSUP) is a global, not-for-profit, non-government organisation to support the development of a professional drug demand reduction workforce. It is a free, international, membership organisation, bringing together the range of workers from the prevention, treatment and recovery fields to inform, connect and strengthen their research, practice and policy-making.

ISSUP had been able to implement its activities in consultation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the African Union.  

The International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR)

Website www.icuddr.org
The International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR) was established in 2016 and incorporated as a not-for-profit organisation in March, 2018. The goal of ICUDDR is to support development of competencies and skills of addiction professionals, to meet an increasing demand for prevention and treatment services. Toward this end, the purpose of ICUDDR is to facilitate networking among universities to promote high-quality education and training in the field of addiction prevention and treatment. It also pursues related applied addictions research, outreach and advocacy. ICUDDR supports the formation of academic programmes in addiction studies at a time when demand is at an all-time high. Currently, many institutions are establishing addiction specialties in medicine, and many physicians and other health care professionals could benefit from continuing education to prevent and treat substance use disorders. 

Please visit ICCUDR’s website for more information on ICUDDR membership, events and activities: www.icuddr.org

 

Ecolink Institute of Well-being:  

(www.ecolinkinstitute.com)

Located in Mangalore, India, Ecolink Institute is an approved Training Provider recognized by esteemed organizations such as the Colombo Plan, the International Society for Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), the Global Center for Credentialing and Certification (GCCC), and the International Society of Substance Use Professionals. We specialize in offering international courses on Substance Use Disorder, including the renowned Universal Treatment Curricula (UTC) and Prevention Curricula (UPC).

Guided by an Board of Directors and an esteemed International Consultative Committee, including Dr Thomas Scaria (Founder Director), Mr Ronnie Scarl Thomas (Secretary), Dr Thulitha Wickramage (Psychologist - US), Tomy Mathew (Social Entrepreneur - Sri Lanka), our institute strives for excellence in education and training.

 

Our International Consultative Committee features distinguished leaders in the field, including Dr Thirumagal V (Training Consultant - India), Mr Guy Paillard (Global Strategist and Training Consultant - UK), Mr John Smith (Overseas Therapy Consultant - Thailand), Mr Johann Coetzer-Liversage (Recovery Support Consultant - US), Odireleng Kasale (Youth Coordinator - Botswana), and Ashwin Tind (Recovery Coach and Trainer - Malaysia).

Join Ecolink Institute to expand your knowledge, enhance your skills, and make a positive impact in the field of addiction treatment and psychological well-being. Together, let's pave the way for a healthier and happier future.

 

For more details contact:

Ronnie Scarl Thomas,

Correspondent, Ecolink Institute of Well-being,

Mangalore, India -575008,

Email: ecolinkinstitute@gmail.com

Phone: +91 8073168164, Mr Ronnie (WhatsApp) 

 +91 9448327209, Dr Thomas Scaria

Acknowledgements: Universal Treatment Curricula for Addiction Professionals is part of an eight-volume training series developed by the Colombo Plan and funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

Background of the Universal Treatment Curriculum:
Ecolink Institute
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