Winner 2018

Support for Addictions Prevention and Treatment in Africa (SAPTA)

Mission:

The Support for Addictions Prevention and Treatment in Africa (SAPTA) aims to address substance abuse and related problems in society by devising evidence-based and quality programmes built on understood overarching prevention and treatment principles.

Objectives:

• Provision of educational programmes for addiction counsellors
• Running of community-based prevention programmes
• Advocacy for greater access to treatment
• Promotion of professionalism in the addiction field through strengthening and capacity building for treatment centres
• Outpatient counselling and treatment for substance use disorders

SAPTA’s 5-point foci:

1. Alcohol and drug abuse evidence-based prevention science, especially for children, adolescents, and young adults.
2. Alcohol and drug abuse (AUD/SUD) treatment throughout patient services and alcohol and drug treatment programmes especially focusing on the poor and those who are marginalised.
3. Recovery programmes: Understanding SUD as chronic disease management.
4. Training on evidence-based addiction counselling and prevention science and continuing professional education courses for addiction professionals and others.
5. Research on alcohol/drugs/HIV/mental illnesses; advocacy for access to treatment.

Partners:

• The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) 
• Republic of Kenya Ministry of Health 

Outcomes:

• SAPTA has encouraged the development of a budget for mental health and psychosocial rehabilitation by evidencing the effectiveness of community-based interventions.
• SAPTA offers a range of substance abuse testing and addiction assessments.
• ‘Reaching Youth Before Drugs Do’ is a drug prevention programme created by SAPTA that aims to provide young people with information, so they can make informed decisions to remain drug-free.
• SAPTA has developed an Employee Assistance Programme that offers free counselling and advice to support wellbeing in the workplace.
• SAPTA, with funding from SAMHSA, has created an alcohol/drug/HIV risk reduction psycho-educational programme, called ‘Steps to Healthy Living’ for use in community settings by peer educators. 
• The Truth About Drugs Programme is designed to support parents to deliver factual information about drugs and their harmful effects.
• SAPTA is successfully working to reduce stigma, increase access to mental health support, integrate mental health services in primary health care and promote commitment to community interventions.