Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process—it is dynamic, multifaceted, and deeply individual. To truly support individuals on their recovery journey, practitioners must access tools, systems, and knowledge that reflect the realities of those they serve.
ISSUP Nigeria joined the global community on June 26 to commemorate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, under the theme: “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.”
Across the country, members of ISSUP Nigeria were actively involved in a range of activities, reaching young people in schools, engaging policymakers, raising awareness in local communities, and sharing prevention messages through media and online platforms.
From student-led campaigns in Oyo State and community sensitisation walks in Lagos state, to high-level advocacy events in Niger State and...
The WHO Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders provides a comprehensive snapshot of global trends in alcohol consumption, related harms, and national policy responses, alongside the availability and quality of treatment services for alcohol and drug use disorders.
Key Highlights:
Presents the latest data from WHO Member States, aligned with SDG Health Target 3.5: “Strengthen prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.”
Offers updated insights on global alcohol consumption patterns...
This survey is a collaborative effort by ICUDDR, NECPAM and ISAM. Together, we are trying to assess the impact recent reductions in funding have had to the workforce of fields dealing with substance use related issues.
ISSUP Nigeria presents the 27th session of its bi-monthly webinar in the Knowledge Update Series. This webinar focuses on the topic of 'Exploring the Intersection of Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health: Challenges and Effective Interventions.'
ISSUP Nigeria would like to invite you to the 27th session of its bi-monthly webinar in the Knowledge Update Series. This webinar will focus on the topic of 'Exploring the Intersection of Substance Use Disorders and Mental Health: Challenges and Effective Interventions.'.
Lee, EH., Yu, HJ. Effectiveness of nurse-initiated smoking cessation intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 20, 18 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-025-00648-8
Background
Smoking is one of the top causes of preventable death and is linked to many serious health problems, including cancer and chronic diseases. Nurses can play a big role in helping people quit smoking by offering support through counselling, education, and mental health care. These nurse-led programs have been shown to increase quit rates. Training nurses to deliver these programs is important, and reviewing past studies helps us understand what works best.
Methods
Researchers searched eight major health databases between March 27 and August 1, 2024, to find studies on nurse-led...
CSUCH’s data visualisation tool can be used to estimate substance use trends across the country. The data helps inform programs, practices, and research to protect communities, save lives, and improve the well-being of people in Canada.
Spotlight: Top 3 causes of death due to substance use in Canada
More than 200 people died each day due to substance use (SU) in 2020 (the latest year for which data are available). That works out to 73,994 deaths that year. The average age of death due to SU was 45 years. Tobacco use caused 63% (46,366) of SU-related deaths, followed by alcohol at 23%...
ISSUP Nigeria presents the 26th session of its bi-monthly webinar in the Knowledge Update Series. This webinar focuses on the topic of 'The Role of Family in Substance Use Prevention'.
Addiction and obesity share similar neurological pathways, both linked to compulsive behaviors and the brain's reward system. Research has highlighted the potential of GLP-1 receptor agonists, originally developed for diabetes, to help manage both appetite and addictive cravings. These medications, such as semaglutide, may regulate addictive behaviors by influencing reward circuits in the brain. However, they come with potential side effects, and their long-term effects are still under investigation.
In addition, a new compound, 5-Methoxy-2-aminoindane (MEAI), is being researched for its...
This week, we say goodbye to our dear friend and mentor, Jeff Lee, the founding Executive Director of ISSUP. Jeff was a steadfast advocate for the professionalization of prevention, insisting that those working in this field should be appropriately specialized. He often reminded us that while generalists and treatment specialists are well-meaning and deeply embedded within their communities, they are not always best placed to develop and implement evidence-based prevention systems. Jeff emphasized that prevention must be treated as a distinct science—one that is grounded in rigorous research...
ISSUP Nigeria desea invitarlo a la 26ª sesión de su seminario web bimensual en la Serie de Actualización de Conocimientos. Este seminario web se centrará en el tema "El papel de la familia en la prevención del consumo de sustancias".
El Equipo de los Capítulos Nacionales celebró una reunión virtual fundamental de 2 días del 10 al 11 de diciembre de 2024 para evaluar el modelo operativo actual de los Capítulos Nacionales e identificar oportunidades de mejora y crecimiento. La reunión fue denominada una "Reunión de Visión" para reflejar la agenda central: la elaboración de un plan con visión de futuro para los Capítulos Nacionales de ISSUP.
La Comisión de la Unión Africana (AUC) ha celebrado una consulta continental anual para la Reducción de la Demanda de Drogas (DDR) desde 2015. Cada uno de los Estados miembros de la AUC está representado por sus respectivos puntos focales nacionales de desarme, desmovilización y reintegración, lo que brinda a los Estados miembros la oportunidad de presentar las actividades nacionales de desarme, desmovilización y reintegración en una plataforma de revisión por pares que también permite la participación de expertos en la materia invitados. La consulta de este año se llevó a cabo en Arusha,...
The 6th National Conference and Annual General Meeting of ISSUP Nigeria was held under the theme "Strengthening Family Support Systems for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery."
This year’s meeting emphasized the critical role of families in addressing substance use disorders. Experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from across Nigeria gathered to discuss strategies for enhancing family involvement in prevention, effective treatment approaches, and sustained recovery for individuals struggling with substance use.
The event served as a platform for knowledge exchange...
Agwogie, M. O. (2024). Rapid assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to synthetic drugs in Nigeria. Global Initiative on Substance Abuse www.gisainitiative.org
Synthetic drugs have become a significant global public health concern, and particularly in Nigeria. More worrisome is the level of ingenuity associated with synthetic drugs, the speed of production, difficulties in identification and the limited information on their health and social consequences for clinical and policy interventions. This project aimed at contributing to efforts towards mitigating synthetic drugs threat in Nigeria by enhancing knowledge, local capacities and fostering collaborative knowledge-sharing among key stakeholders. The primary objectives were to conduct a rapid...
ISSUP Nigeria presents the 25th session of its bi-monthly webinar in the Knowledge Update Series. This webinar focuses on the topic of 'Non-Conventional Psychoactive Substances in Nigeria: Understanding Trends and Implications for Public Health'.