KINGSTON, Jamaica – A new on-line educational program in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse will be offered in the English-speaking Caribbean, thanks to a partnership between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Organization of American States (OAS).
The UWI Distance Education Centre will offer the one-year, 10-course program for a Certificate in Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment, beginning in September. Applications must be received by the end of this month.
The initiative is the culmination of a two-year partnership between the OAS/CICAD and UWI, undertaken at the request of many national drug commissions. Course development costs were financed by the governments of the United States and Canada.
The program is intended to provide high-quality continuing education relevant to the career needs of professionals and other individuals working in the English-speaking Caribbean OAS member states and other English-speaking countries and territories. This includes those working in the prevention of substance abuse, treatment of substance abusers and management of substance abuse rehabilitation facilities.
“The OAS member states are keenly aware of the need to confront every aspect of the drug problem, and the treatment of substance abuse is a critical part of that effort,” said CICAD Executive Secretary James Mack. “This program represents an important step forward, as it will give professionals and students throughout the Caribbean the opportunity to broaden their expertise in this field.”
The curriculum includes 10 three-credit courses, covering professional training needs in the areas of epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and management. Additional course offerings will be made in the future and a full university degree is in preparation.
Participants may register with the intention of taking the whole program or individual courses. For prerequisites, tuition costs and other information, please visit the UWI Web site (http://addictionstudies.dec.uwi.edu).
