Early Detection and Effective Intervention: Specialized Training for Drug Counselors Concludes at Dar Al-Amal
Ramallah – As part of the Ministry of Social Development’s commitment to enhancing the efficiency of its staff working on drug-related issues, and empowering social counselors with the professional tools necessary to address addiction cases and prevent them, the Ministry continues to implement specialized training programs aimed at strengthening early intervention, improving referral mechanisms, and enhancing aftercare services. These efforts contribute to serving and protecting Palestinian society from the risks posed by this phenomenon.
The Ministry of Social Development concluded, yesterday Sunday, a specialized two-day training program targeting field drug counselors, as part of its efforts to strengthen the addiction prevention system and develop the capacities of professionals working in this sensitive field. The training was organized in coordination with the General Administration of Social Care and Rehabilitation / Drug Department, and in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the General Administration for Drug Control, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), adding a comprehensive institutional and partnership-based dimension to the program.
The first day of the training was held online via video conferencing (Zoom), attended by the Ministry’s Undersecretary, while the second day was conducted in person at Dar Al-Amal Foundation in Beitunia. The program concluded under the patronage of the Assistant Undersecretary for Community Development, Ms. Rola Nazzal.
The training covered a number of specialized topics, most notably: mechanisms for the early detection of drug use cases, referral protocols to treatment and detoxification centers, aftercare programs that support recovery and reduce relapse, as well as developing counselors’ skills in implementing community awareness campaigns on the dangers of drugs.
The training was delivered by a distinguished group of specialists, including Dr. Saed Al-Balbeisi, Director of the Alternative Treatment Center at the Ministry of Health; Brigadier Dhafer Salah from the General Administration for Drug Control; and Mr. Khaldoun Oweis, Head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The course was attended by the Director General of Social Care, Mr. Malek Abu Khalil; Director of the Drug Prevention Department, Ruba Al-Barghouthi; Director of Dar Al-Amal, Mohammad Atta; in addition to participating counselors from various directorates.
The Ministry affirmed that this training program is part of an integrated system aimed at enabling counselors to professionally deal with addiction cases, increasing the effectiveness of preventive interventions, and strengthening the capacity of the social sector to confront the issue of drug abuse within Palestinian society.
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