Three Days Addiction Prevention Training for Youth and Adults/ Parents
Topic delivered during the Workshop: Substance abuse and Tobacco use
The SGCS conducted a three-day-long workshop on addiction prevention focusing on substance and tobacco use in Mogadishu. The training material for this workshop was derived from the standard TBM training which has been adapted to the local context in Somalia. The awareness workshop was held at Istanbul Hotel from 24 to 25 May 2022 and 2 June 2022. During the three days, members from parents and youth participants were categorized as students, universities, and health facilities in Mogadishu. During the workshop, participants discussed the effects of substance abuse and tobacco use.
Objectives of the workshop
- To understand the common addictions in the country/Somalia
- To understand the short-term and long-term effects/consequences of addiction
- To understand the common risk factors for addiction
- To gain knowledge on addiction prevention techniques/strategies
- To learn how to treat/engage with people with addiction problems.
Presentations on Tobacco use.
A member of SGCS delivered a presentation on tobacco use and how to prevent it. The presentation material is derived from standard TBM training which has been adapted to the local context in Somalia. During the presentation, the different types of tobacco, the statistics on global tobacco use, its effects on health and associated social problems, mortality and morbidity caused by tobacco use, and the risk factors to start using tobacco were presented.
The participants shared experiences and the best ways/strategies to prevent tobacco use were discussed. Participants acknowledged that they gained an in-depth understanding of the health and social problems of tobacco use and techniques to prevent it.
Substance abuse
The second presentation which was also presented by a member of SGCS focused on substance abuse. Like the previous presentation, this second presentation was based on standard TBM training but adapted to the local context in Somalia. During the presentation, general information was presented on the use of drugs, the most commonly used drugs in Somalia, the risk factors that make it easier for people, especially young people to start using drugs, the health and social problems of substance abuse, and ways to prevent them. The presentation emphasized the impact of peer pressure, and close friends influencing people to start using drugs/substance abuse.
Reflection
After the presentation, all participants discussed the problems of substance abuse and how to deal with it. Some participants described lived experiences they had experienced, particularly those involving young people in their families who had used drugs and others they knew who had been harmed by substance abuse. All participants agreed to work together to fight drug abuse and raise awareness about the prevention of substance/drug abuse.
The participants are encouraged to start community awareness campaigns in schools and university campuses by forming youth groups to develop these campaigns and increase the use of social media to raise public awareness of substance abuse.
Wrap-up of the session
The SGCS Chair delivered closing remarks, thanked the participants for their participation in the workshop and the ideas they presented, and urged them to continue their efforts to prevent drug use. He said such workshops will continue to raise public awareness regarding drug/substance abuse