Maria Camila Remolina

Visita de CICAD a la Parroquia Santa Clara de Iturbe - Paraguay

Maria Camila Remolina -

La CICAD visitó la Parroquia Santa Clara de Iturbe para dar seguimiento al trabajo de las Hermanas de la Congregación de San Camilo, quienes participaron en la capacitación para organizaciones basadas en la fe realizada en el marco del Congreso Internacional de Villarrica que se llevo a cabo en Septiembre …….. Durante la visita, se sostuvo un intercambio con la Pastoral de la Salud de la parroquia para conocer cómo los conocimientos adquiridos durante la capacitación se están traduciendo en acciones concretas de prevención, acompañamiento y apoyo comunitario. Este encuentro permitió fortalecer...

Maria Camila Remolina

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼Alianza CICAD–CELAM: Una Respuesta Basada en la Fe frente al Uso de Sustancias

Maria Camila Remolina -
La revista Vida Nueva destaca la alianza entre la CICAD/OEA y la Pastoral Latinoamericana de Acompañamiento y Prevención de Adicciones (PLAPA), firmada en julio a través del CELAM para establecer mecanismos de cooperación entre ambos organismos. El artículo repasa los frutos de este trabajo conjunto...
Lea el artículo completo aquí.
Maria Camila Remolina

Capacitación del Currículum “Una Respuesta Basada en la Fe frente a las Drogas y el Reclutamiento Criminal de Jóvenes” - Paraguay

Maria Camila Remolina -

En el marco del Congreso Internacional sobre el Trastorno por Uso de Sustancias, la CICAD/OEA realizó una capacitación del currículum “Una Respuesta Basada en la Fe frente a las Drogas y el Reclutamiento Criminal de Jóvenes”. 

La SENAD de Paraguay compartió la siguiente publicación sobre su participación:

📍 Villarrica

SENAD fortalece alianzas para la prevención de las adicciones

Acompañamos el Congreso Internacional sobre el Trastorno por Uso de Sustancias, impulsado por la CICAD/OEA y la Pastoral Latinoamericana de Acompañamiento y Prevención de las Adicciones.

🤝 Promovemos el trabajo...

Maria Camila Remolina

Training of Trainers on the curriculum, "A Faith-Based Response to Drugs and Youth Criminal Recruitment" - Trinidad and Tobago

Maria Camila Remolina -

🌎 Strengthening faith-based responses to youth recruitment by drug-related organized crime across the Caribbean and beyond

From September 15-18, 2026, @CICAD_OEA organized in collaboration with @PLAPAok a training of trainers focused on the spiritual component of the curriculum, "A Faith-Based Response to Drugs and Youth Criminal Recruitment" in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The training is being held with financial support from @StateINL, as well as collaboration from @ISSUPnet and participation from trainers from Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, El Salvador, the United Kingdom...

Maria Camila Remolina

Who are “the broken”? - Faith-based international meeting - Rome

Maria Camila Remolina -

Who are “the broken”? “The broken” are individuals, families, and communities who bear the less visible consequences of drug trafficking: violence, exclusion, lost opportunities, and the breakdown of the bonds that hold a community together.

The concept of “the broken” was one of the topics discussed during the first day of the international meeting organized this week by @CICAD_OEA and @CelamWeb, in Rome 🇮🇹, bringing attention to a reality that goes far beyond drug trafficking itself.

This reality is central to the meeting, which brings together experiences from Latin America, the Caribbean...

Maria Camila Remolina

Training on the Curriculum for Faith-Based Organizations - Dominican Republic

Maria Camila Remolina -

The @CICAD_OEA conducted the Training on the Curriculum for Faith-Based Organizations from May 19–22, 2026, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in collaboration with @ConsejoDrogasRD and with support from @StateINL.

The important work of faith-based organizations was recognized, highlighting the need to build partnerships to strengthen community impact.

 

La @CICAD_OEA llevó a cabo, del 19 al 22 de mayo de 2026, la Capacitación del Currículum para Organizaciones Basadas en la Fe, en Santo Domingo, República Dominicana, en colaboración con el @ConsejoDrogasRD y con el apoyo de @StateINL.

...
Maria Camila Remolina

Regional Training of Trainers for the Curriculum on Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery of Substance Use for Faith-Based Organizations - Argentina

Maria Camila Remolina -

@CICAD_OEA conducted the Regional Training of Trainers for the Curriculum on Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery of Substance Use for Faith-Based Organizations from April 21 to 24, 2026 in Mar del Plata, Argentina, with the participation of representatives from 11 countries from Latin America. The training was conducted in collaboration with @StateINL.

The meeting aimed to strengthen and expand the dissemination of the curriculum in the region. The training highlighted the importance of complementarity between spirituality and the technical components of prevention, treatment, and recovery.

...
Barbara Correa

5th PLAPA Meeting 2026

Shared by Barbara Correa -
5to Encuentro PLAPA
Location
Online
Event Date

🕊 The Church: A Family Called to Prevent and Accompany

In the face of situations of problematic consumption and the advance of drug trafficking, we are convinced that no one is saved alone. We convene to share, learn and strengthen our...

Translations
Español
Barbara Correa

ISSUP Perú te invita al webinar sobre Ciencia y Fe, Construyendo puentes de humanidad y a conocer la Pastoral de Adicciones en Perú

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ISSUP Peru webinar Ciencia y Fe

#Webinar💻 | Este jueves 29 de octubre tendremos un nuevo webinar internacional y presentaremos las siguientes ponencias:
🔹CIENCIA Y FE: Construyendo puentes de humanidad
🔹El proceso de la Pastoral de Adicciones de Perú

📆 29 de octubre
⏰ 20:00 hrs (Horario de Lima, Perú)
📍 Zoom

Si estás interesado/a en participar del webinar, inscríbete aquí:
🔗 https://forms.gle/ai9SGAXPLsMezhBy6 👈 Encuentra el enlace en el perfil de la Facultad de Psicología PUCP

Rasha Abi Hana

Connecting Evidence, Prevention, Law Enforcement and Community Action: Key Insights from ISSUP 2026

Shared by Rasha Abi Hana (ISSUP staff) -
Format
Reading List

How do we go about translating evidence into effective action, strengthen prevention, address drug-related crime, improve access to treatment and recovery support, and build safer, healthier communities?

This age-old question was explored during ISSUP's 2026 Virtual Conference, held on 22–23 September 2026 under the theme Connecting Sectors, Creating Impact: A United Response on Drugs.

Bringing together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, law enforcement professionals and community representatives from different regions, the conference provided an opportunity to exchange evidence...

Rasha Abi Hana

Faith-Based Approaches: The Role of Faith and Religious Institutions in Addressing Substance Use 

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Format
Report

Faith, spirituality and faith-based organisations can play an important role in addressing substance use, supporting recovery and responding to related vulnerabilities as well as crime. Across different cultural and community settings, they can provide identity, belonging, hope and sustained relationships, while often reaching individuals and families in ways that formal services cannot. 

But recognising this potential also raises important questions. How can faith communities ensure that the support they provide is informed by evidence? How can faith leaders be equipped with the knowledge...

Barbara Correa

CICAD delivers Faith-Based Training on Substance Use Prevention and Youth Criminal Recruitment in partnership with ISSUP Peru

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Opening faith training Peru

From 21 to 24 September 2026, the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS), in partnership with ISSUP Peru, delivered the training “A Faith-Based Response to Drugs and Youth Criminal Recruitment” in Lima, Peru. The activity was held as part of the ISSUP Peru Chapter Annual Meeting and brought together faith-based leaders, pastoral agents, and representatives of civil society organizations from across the country.

The training brought together pastoral agents, representatives of civil society organizations, and leaders of faith-based...

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Rasha Abi Hana

A scoping review of spirituality in relation to substance use disorders: Psychological, biological, and cultural issues

Shared by Rasha Abi Hana (ISSUP staff) -
Format
Scientific article
Published by / Citation
Galanter, M., White, W. L., Khalsa, J., & Hansen, H. (2024). A scoping review of spirituality in relation to substance use disorders: Psychological, biological, and cultural issues. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 42(3), 210–218. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2023.2174785

This scoping review explores the role of spirituality in substance use disorders (SUD) across psychological, biological and cultural dimensions. It reviews research on topics including spiritual awakening, drug craving, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, biological and neurological aspects of spiritual experiences, and the ways spirituality is understood across different cultural settings.

The review also considers the distinction between spirituality and religion and the role of spirituality in building recovery capital. While existing research points to several potentially important...

Rasha Abi Hana

Religion and Spirituality in Addiction Recovery

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Format
Scientific article
Published by / Citation
Hahn, J.L. (2025), Religion and Spirituality in Addiction Recovery. Religion Compass, 19: e70017. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec3.70017

This scoping review examines the role of spirituality in substance use disorders across three interconnected areas: psychology, biology, and culture. It explores topics including spiritual awakening, the relationship between spirituality and drug craving, spirituality in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and the psychological ways in which people understand substance use and recovery.

The review also considers biological research on spiritual experiences and brain processes, as well as cultural differences in how spirituality and religion relate to substance use and recovery. It highlights...

Rasha Abi Hana

From Darkness to Light: Spiritual Turning Points in Recovery among Former Substance Users in Norway

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Format
Scientific article
Published by / Citation
Yri, M., Brattgjerd, M. & Koefoed, A. From Darkness to Light: Spiritual Turning Points in Recovery among Former Substance Users in Norway. J Relig Health (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-026-02695-2

This qualitative study explores how spiritual experiences contribute to recovery from substance use disorders among 24 people who completed Christian faith-based rehabilitation programmes in Norway. Participants described experiencing loss of identity, hopelessness, and emotional distress before entering rehabilitation.

Within faith-based communities, experiences of forgiveness, belonging, and unconditional acceptance were described as important spiritual turning points. Participants associated these experiences with renewed meaning, dignity, and a changed sense of identity. The study...

Rasha Abi Hana

A mosque-based methadone maintenance treatment strategy: Implementation and pilot results

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Format
Scientific article
Published by / Citation
Rusdi Abd Rashid, Khosrow Kamali, Mohammad Hussain Habil, Mohamed Hatta Shaharom, Tahereh Seghatoleslam, Majid Yoosefi Looyeh, A mosque-based methadone maintenance treatment strategy: Implementation and pilot results, International Journal of Drug Policy, Volume 25, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 1071-1075, ISSN 0955-3959, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.07.003.

This study describes an Islamic-inspired methadone maintenance treatment programme delivered in a mosque setting for 36 Muslim men who used heroin. The programme combined methadone treatment with peer support and religious counselling, exploring whether mosques could provide an accessible community setting for substance use treatment and longer-term recovery support.

After 12 months, the programme had an 80% retention rate, and all but one participant tested negative for opioids and other substances. Participants also reported reductions in substance use and improvements in general health and...

Barbara Correa

De la formación a la acción: ISSUP Chile impulsa la creación de Centros de Escucha Barrial en Temuco

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ISSUP Chile - faithbased

La capacitación dirigida a organizaciones basadas en la fe realizada en 2025 continúa generando resultados en La Araucanía. ISSUP Chile forma parte de una nueva alianza interinstitucional que busca transformar los aprendizajes adquiridos en espacios comunitarios permanentes de escucha, acogida, orientación y derivación para personas y familias afectadas por el consumo problemático de alcohol y otras drogas.

La actividad reunió a 32 participantes provenientes de 16 organizaciones, incluyendo organizaciones católicas y evangélicas, fundaciones sociales, representantes de la red pública y de la...

Rasha Abi Hana

The Role of Faith Communities in Addressing Substance Use and Crime – Reading List (Part 2)

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Format
Reading List

In this second reading list, we continue exploring the growing evidence on the role and contribution of faith communities and faith-based organisations in addressing substance use and crime, with a particular focus on treatment engagement, recovery, rehabilitation, and criminal justice. While Part 1 highlighted the contribution of faith communities to prevention, community resilience, and violence reduction, this collection examines how spirituality and religiosity may influence help-seeking, substance use outcomes, abstinence, recidivism, and successful reintegration into society.

Faith...

Rasha Abi Hana

Spirituality and Harmful or Hazardous Alcohol and Other Drug Use

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Format
Scientific article
Published by / Citation
Koh HK, Frederick DE, Balboni TA, O'Reilly SM, Kelly JF, Humphreys K, Botticelli M, Mathur MB, Psimopoulos CS, Long KNG, VanderWeele TJ. Spirituality and Harmful or Hazardous Alcohol and Other Drug Use: A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies. JAMA Psychiatry. 2026 Apr 1;83(4):363-378. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.4816. PMID: 41706493; PMCID: PMC12917744.

This meta-analysis synthesises evidence from 55 longitudinal studies involving more than 540,000 participants to examine the relationship between spirituality and harmful or hazardous alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. The findings demonstrate a consistent protective association, with spirituality linked to a 13% reduction in the risk of alcohol and other drug use across prevention and recovery outcomes. Among individuals who regularly participated in spiritual or religious communities, the protective effect increased to an 18% reduction in risk.

The review found that nearly all included...

Rasha Abi Hana

Association Between Religiosity and Spirituality and Cocaine Use: A Systematic Review

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Shutterstock
Format
Scientific article
Published by / Citation
Buja, A., Montecchio, L. & Dossi, F. Association Between Religiosity and Spirituality and Cocaine Use: A Systematic Review. J Relig Health 63, 3532–3579 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-024-02069-6

This systematic review examines the association between religiosity, spirituality, and cocaine use by analysing findings from 20 observational studies involving adults and adolescents. Most studies found that higher levels of religiosity were associated with lower lifetime and current cocaine use, suggesting that religious engagement may serve as a protective factor against substance use.

The review also highlights important exceptions. One study involving sexual minority participants found that certain forms of private religious practice were associated with higher cocaine use, while several...

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