15th Biennial International Conference on Drugs, Alcohol and Society in Africa

Events

15th Biennial International Conference on Drugs, Alcohol and Society in Africa

13 May 2024
Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA)

The Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA) hereby announces its 15th Biennial International Conference on Drugs, Alcohol and Society in Africa. The conference will hold in Abuja on 7 and 8 August 2024. In the context of a growing demand for evidence based substance use disorder treatment systems, the major theme of the 2024 conference is “Improving access to treatment for substance use disorders: Emerging strategies and persistent challenges”.

We invite you to submit abstracts of relevant research papers on this theme for
presentation at the conference. We will also consider requests to organize panel discussions, debates and workshops on the topic of drug and alcohol policy in one country, region or across the continent. We welcome original contributions from a range of disciplines, including health and social sciences, law, the humanities, and media studies (especially social media).

Papers not directly related to the major theme but address any current issue on
psychoactive substance use in Africa will be accepted for presentation at the conference.

You will find below a list of suggested sub-themes and topics for your consideration. The major theme of the 2024 International Conference is: Improving access to treatment for substance use disorders: Emerging strategies and persistent challenges

Sub-themes addressing treatment issues, supply and demand, and responses to problems include the following:

Availability of services for people who use drugs; access to treatment; illicit supply and drug markets in Africa; decriminalization of drug use; community epidemiology of drug/alcohol use and substance use disorders; regulation of drugs; medicinal cannabis; harm reduction; availability of medications for the management of pain; control of prescription opioids; alcohol and tobacco policies; measuring policy effectiveness; assessment of national plans of action, and national practice guidelines; stigma; alternative development; availability and use of new psychoactive substances; social and cultural factors in drug supply and demand; community factors in the prevention of drug and
alcohol abuse; role of the media and civil society; gender perspectives; drugs and the legal system; the current state of drug policy research, vulnerable populations; etc.

Papers that are not directly related to these sub-themes will also be considered for presentation at the conference as long as they address some aspect of the substance use situation in Africa

In addition to sessions devoted to the presentation of research papers, the conference will feature:

  • Keynote addresses,
  • Research and publication workshops,
  • Discussion panels on professional practice and policy.

Venue and Important Dates
The conference will be held in Abuja, Nigeria. The specific venue will be announced later.

Please take note of the following important dates:

  • Abstract submission deadline: 26 April 2024
  • Full Paper submission deadline: 7 June 2024
  • Deadline for Early Bird registration: 12 July 2024
  • Conference days: 7 and 8 August 2024

Guidelines for preparing abstracts

  • Begin with the paper title, followed by author(s), affiliation(s).
  • Capitalize the full title.
  • The first and last names of authors should be written in full.
  • Provide full contact information for the lead author.
  • The main body of the abstract should be in one paragraph with no subheadings for the sections.
  • Do not exceed 250 words.
  • Submit as a Word document.
  • More information on pre-conference workshops, registration, travel, accommodation, etc. will be available on the CRISA website in due course. You can also contact us directly for such information.

Registration
All registered participants will be served lunch and tea/coffee for two days and will also receive conference materials, complimentary copies of the African Journal of Drug and Alcohol Studies, books and certificates of participation.

Registration fees are as follows:

  • Full registration: N40,000 ($100 for international participants)
  • Early registration: N35,000 (payment on or before 12 July 2024)
  • Students – N25,000

Contact
For further information about the conference please contact:

Gloria Akpabio: Phone: +234 802 756 1365
Nsidibe Essien: Phone +234 803 328 9499

Email: crisainfo1@gmail.com or info@crisaafrica.org
Office: CRISA, 84 Aka Itiam Road, Uyo, Nigeria

Conference Chair: Professor Isidore S. Obot, Executive Director, CRISA
Email: obotis@gmail.com or iobot@crisaafrica.org

Information about registration, travel and accommodation will also be available on the CRISA website — www.crisaafrica.org.

This African conference series was launched in 1991 and has attracted participants from around the continent and the world over the years. We look forward to seeing first time and returning participants in Abuja in August 20204. Do not hesitate to contact us for any information you may need in connection with the conference.