On December 5-9th, 2022 a National Conference took place in the Quezon City, Philippines. The event was a great success and was only made possible due to the dedication and the hard work each and every one of you put into it. The event, organised by the Philippine Addiction Specialists Society (PASS), host of the ISSUP Philippines National Chapter, with support from US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and Colombo Plan, included a 5 day conference programme, the relaunch of the ISSUP Philippines National Chapter, and a selection of UTC, UPC, WISE trainings and side meetings.
Our joint mission connects us and the ISSUP Philippines Conference has shown that through collaboration we can increase our impact – together we are strong, ISSUP Unites!
Event Objectives
- To introduce PASS as host of ISSUP Philippines
- To provide a discussion forum on selected current issues, in particular:
- Alternatives to Incarceration
- Global Credentialing and Local Accreditation
- To sustain and improve on the training trajectory of ISSUP in the Philippines
- To provide a training venue for existing ISSUP members to refresh/continue their training path
- To invite and engage non-ISSUP addiction professionals to begin their training path
Event Description
The 2nd ISSUP Philippines National Conference with the theme "Build Better Best: Building unified and synergized communities for the management of substance use" marked the official launch of the Philippine Addiction Specialists Society (PASS) as the Philippines National Chapter of ISSUP Global. It provided a discussion forum for selected current issues in addiction management, particularly Alternatives to Incarceration, Global Credentialing, and Local Accreditation. In order to sustain and improve on the training trajectory of ISSUP in the Philippines, the National Conference provided a venue for current ISSUP members to refresh and continue their training paths, alongside engaging with non-ISSUP addiction professionals to kickstart their education in the Universal Curricula.
Collaborating Partners
The Philippine Addiction Specialists Society (PASS) is an umbrella organization for all clinicians, researchers, academicians, and organizations involved in addiction treatment programs, training, and research in the Philippines.
PASS is committed to the maintenance and furtherance of all specialized fields of addiction science services in the country. It is geared towards ensuring optimal evidence-based and compassionate care delivery to those who need it. The organization encourages clinically relevant addiction science research and governance initiatives as well as the rapid dissemination of new findings. It also aims to develop constructive and harmonious relationships with addiction science experts and advocates, and to facilitate discussion and exchange of information among specialists in the field of addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery.
INL Manila
Recognizing that substance use disorders are a major public health threat, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) works closely with international partners to:
- Develop and implement capacity building activities to promote evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery practices in more than 60 countries worldwide
- Establish professional networks to connect policy makers, practitioners, and academia to share knowledge and best practices
- Expand access to evidence-based programs
In the Philippines, INL drug demand reduction programming focuses on improving drug prevention, treatment, and recovery through the development and support of public health programs and community-based interventions. INL is pleased to partner with the Philippine Addiction Specialists Society (PASS) to support the ISSUP Philippines National Conference, in coordination with ISSUP Global and Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Programme (CPDAP). With INL support, several tracks from the globally recognized Universal Prevention, Treatment, and Specialized Curricula, led by Global Master Trainers, will be offered during the conference. INL will also support the administration of the International Certified Addiction Professional (ICAP) Treatment Credentialing Examination to help enhance the standardization of best practices in the field.