The Universidad Salvadoreña Alberto Masferrer (USAM) held the inauguration of the Board of Directors for the ISSUP National Chapter in El Salvador. The event featured the participation of ISSUP's Deputy Chief Executive, Ms. Livia Edegger; ISSUP Coordinator for Latin America and Spain, Ms. Bárbara Correa; and Ms. Andrea Escobar, Program Officer for CICAD-OAS. Delegates from various governmental and private organisations dedicated to the care, treatment, and recovery of various addictions were also in attendance.
These organisations form the National ISSUP Chapter in El Salvador, aiming to promote knowledge, exchange experiences, develop strategies to foster mental health, conduct joint research to identify new drug prevention methods, refine best practice programs for addiction processes, and create multidisciplinary teams to contribute expertise on substance use, among other goals.
ISSUP (International Society of Substance Use Professionals) is an organisation established in the United Kingdom with the objective of fostering interinstitutional collaboration to support substance use recovery. Numerous organisations worldwide are part of this effort, and the countries involved establish their respective ISSUP Chapters.
USAM is committed to this new challenge and, alongside institutions such as FOSALUD, CNA, CICAD-OAS, INL, alcohol recovery centres, hospitals, and others, is ready to continue the training initiated in previous sessions under the banner of the ISSUP National Chapter El Salvador.
The ISSUP Board of Directors inauguration event ensured the continuation of the training efforts. After the formal ceremony, the committed institutions and their representatives participated in the First Academic Scientific Meeting of the ISSUP Chapter in El Salvador.
The academic event took place in the Helios Hall of the university on April 26, featuring presentations on the following topics: "Approach to Fentanyl and Opioids," "Vaping," and "What is Recovery? A Lifelong Journey."
Two panel discussions were held on: "Best Prevention Practices Based on International Standards" and "Ethics in Demand Reduction."
Undoubtedly, USAM sets a precedent as a leading educational institution committed to society in the academic, professional, and human health support fields.