By Thomas Scaria
Mangaluru: A simple survey undertaken by a group of Catholic youth on the effect of pandemic on Substance Use Disorder resulted in developing an online training for addiction practitioners from more than 15 countries.
Ecolink Institute of Well-being which carried out the survey not only identified hundreds of substance users wanting help to recover, but brought together several volunteers willing to help.
“We started the first online live training for 40 volunteers on counselling skills in last June who eventually became addiction counsellors for the alcohol and substance users identified in the survey”, said Ronnie Thomas, a co-founder of the institute.
Noticing the success of the Online Live Training in motivating and professionalizing the addiction workforce during the pandemic, Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program recognized the Ecolink Institute as their “Approved Training Provider” in training addiction professionals globally. Colombo Plan is a Commonwealth initiated Inter-Governmental Organization started in 1951.
The Institute started its first batch September 15, 2020, with 41 participants from India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, Australia and US by imparting Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC) for Substance Use practitioners. This batch completed their course by January 15 this year.
The second batch was started in November last year with 39 students from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Mexico, Philippines, Maldives, South Africa, Botswana and Kenya. The third batch with students from 12 countries opened on February 13.
The UTC is an international syllabus developed by the Colombo Plan with the support of the US Government for training and professionalizing the addiction workforce globally, and thereby ensuring a universal standard for addiction recovery programs.
Currently, this training is approved in nearly 100 countries and students completing this course can get International Credential by passing an online examination conducted by the Global Center for Credentialing and Certification (GCCC), USA.
Opening the third batch last week, Becky Vaughn, director of GCCC, said that the number of Substance users around the globe is around 36 million people and their number is growing day by day. Quoting the World Drug Report published in last June, she said many developed and developing countries are struggling with this menace which necessitates a large number of addiction professionals.
She said those doing UTC course with Ecolink can write their credentialing exam with GCCC and get international license to practice as “addiction professionals” anywhere in the world.
George Murimi, a senior officer from Colombo Plan who addressed the participants, said Ecolink is the pioneer in the field of offering UTC as Online live training in the world and it is a good opportunity offered. “Ecolink has a long way to go in the field of professionalizing the addiction workforce around the globe,” he said.
Khalid Hyumayuni, project Manager for Asia and Pacific, Colombo Plan observed that Ecolink Institute has grown from the Indian context to a global training provider within a short span of time. “Addiction treatment is a complex field that requires updated knowledge and skills,” said the officer who pointed out that the Universal Treatment Curriculum is developed through years of research by global experts based on evidence based practices.
John Smith from South Africa, who heads a Drug Treatment Center in Thailand and a student of the Ecolink Institute, said he could integrate lot of positive changes into his treatment program after attending the course. Smith is still undergoing the six months training with Ecolink.
Christian Alejandro Martínez Leyva from Mexico, another student of the Batch II shared that he could open a new Rehabilitation unit back in his home town with the training he received from Ecolink and the Colombo Plan. “I want to refer more people to attend this course,” he said.
Anacleto Clent Banaay from the Philippines who attend the course, said many unethical practices are happening across drug rehab centers which can be controlled only by training addiction professionals in universal standards. “Addiction is a disease and persons with SUD should be treated with dignity, and not as criminals,” he said.
Fritri Insnaini from Indonesia, who work with government rehabilitation unit, said her training with Ecolink has boosted her motivation and skills in working with drug users. Fitri is one of the five participants from Indonesia.
Shelly Khurana from Australia, a psychologist who attended the course, said although the time zone difference forced her to discontinue the course mid-way, she look forward to join another batch with more flexible timings.
Sivakumar Anoop, a psychiatrist from Hyderabad who completed the UTC course with Ecolink, commented that he plans to concentrate more on working with Substance use Disorder. “I am more passionate to continue in the addiction treatment with more updated knowledge and skills and my ambition is to become an Internationally Certified Addiction Professional (ICAP).
Sivakumar is among 20 candidates preparing for ICAP exam with GCCC after completing the UTC course with Ecolink.
Besides training addiction professionals, Ecolink also runs an online counselling portal called AutumnMind.com. For those interested in the course or counselling services may log in to www.ecolinkinstitute.com for more details and register with our next international batch starting in March, 2021.