ISSUP at Lisbon Addictions 2024: Empowering the Workforce of the Future

From October 23rd to 25th, 2024, Lisbon hosted the Lisbon Addictions 2024 Conference, bringing together 2,231 participants from around the world. The event provided a dynamic platform for sharing the latest research in addiction science and exploring future directions in addiction policy and practice. The Conference theme, "Empowering the Workforce of the Future," focused on strengthening the workforce in addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery, underscoring the critical need for well-trained professionals to meet the evolving demands of the field.

ISSUP actively participated in the Conference, organizing a panel session titled “Learning from Africa: Workforce Development, Enhancement, and Support.” The session aimed to share successful efforts in building a capable addiction workforce, particularly in Africa, and to foster discussion and knowledge exchange. Presentations from ISSUP, ICUDDR, and ITTC covered important topics such as networking, education, and governmental engagement in workforce development.

Rasha Abi Hana, ISSUP's Scientific Support Coordinator, chaired the session and delivered a presentation on “Building a Substance Use Workforce Network in Africa.” She discussed the critical role of networking and collaboration in strengthening workforce capacity in Africa, addressing challenges and showcasing effective solutions for training and supporting addiction professionals across the continent. Goodman Sibeko, ISSUP Scientific Advisor and Director of the South Africa ITTC, joined the session via a recorded video, sharing insights on the importance of building sustainable addiction treatment infrastructures and networks in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In addition to ISSUP’s contribution, Kevin Mulvey, Executive Director of ICUDDR, presented on “Developing the Addiction Workforce in Africa: Progress and Issues.” His session focused on the challenges and opportunities in developing a skilled workforce to address the substance use issues facing African communities. Abel Basutu, Drug Control Programme Lead at the African Union Commission, also shared his expertise with a presentation on “Regional Activity Undertaken by the African Union.” Abel outlined the African Union’s initiatives to support addiction prevention and treatment across the continent, highlighting key regional activities and collaborations aimed at enhancing the capacity of national and regional health systems to address substance use disorders.

The session was a powerful demonstration of the importance of cross-sector collaboration in tackling the global challenge of substance use. It emphasised the need for continued investment in workforce development, the sharing of best practices, and greater engagement from governments, NGOs, and international bodies.

ISSUP’s involvement in Lisbon Addictions 2024 reinforced its ongoing commitment to building a well-trained, effective workforce in substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery support worldwide. By facilitating these crucial discussions and knowledge exchange, ISSUP continues to provide essential platforms for strengthening the global drug demand reduction workforce and advancing evidence-based practices.