From the 2024 Global Conference held in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Author: Andreas Alexander Hein Willius
Although it has been possible to identify that there is a wide variety of programs addressing substance use prevention that are being implemented in Latin América (CICAD, 2019; Brown, Oliveira, Montero-Zamora, Wells, 2019), there is a high degree of uncertainty regarding their scope (coverage and target population), quality of implementation and efficacy-effectiveness. In addition, the reality of the countries in the region, in terms of patterns of use of psychoactive substances, socioeconomic development and implementation of evidence-based prevention strategies, varies enormously. Access to effective evidence-based programs that are adapted to the regional realities is scarce. Faced with this reality, CICAD is focusing on increasing the number of prevention initiatives in active implementation in the region that adhere to minimum quality standards. Furthermore, CICAD is focusing on contributing to increasing the availability of evidence-based prevention initiatives in condition to be transferred between countries in the region. To do so, we propose to develop a regional Hub of Evidence-Based Prevention Practices, “…a node that seeks to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, information, resources and capabilities…”. This initiative will have a medium to long-term focus and will develop actions for about 5 components:
• Develop interest and register requirements and needs for the development of prevention initiatives in the region.
•Develop a Learning Community that Promotes the Professional Development of a Group of “Regional Prevention Mentors”.
• Provide Technical Assistance for the implementation of evidence-based practices that adhere to quality standards.
•Articulate institutional resources and capabilities.
•Knowledge management, especially regarding how to overcome common implementation barriers.
To guide these actions, a proposal for prevention quality standards and an instrument for their evaluation have been developed. The presentation will describe the diagnosis, the components of the initiative, the actions scheduled to be implemented in the first two years, and the progress to date
BIOGRAPHY:
Andreas Hein is a trained Psychologist (U. de Chile) with a Master's degree in Sociology (P. U. Católica de Chile) and a PhD in Evidence-Based Social Intervention (University of Oxford). During his career, he has combined academic and applied research with the development, implementation, and improvement of interventions aimed at vulnerable populations. He specializes in psychometrics, intervention research, and evaluation use. He has served as Manager of Regional Dissemination Projects for the Colombo Plan and as a consultant for CICAD (OAS). In this context, he has led the development and adaptation of standardized professional training curricula in the treatment and prevention of substance use disorders. He has led demand reduction training and technical assistance missions in countries around the world. He currently collaborates with the “Global Center for Credentialing and Certification”, developing standards and exams for the accreditation of professional competencies in the area of drug demand reduction.