DREAM staff training cum review meeting

Bangalore Rural Educational and Development Society (BREADS) Bangalore organised a two-day staff training cum state-level review meeting for the programme staff of its Drug Rehabilitation Education and Mentoring (DREAM) programme on 20 and 21 May 2022 at the Don Bosco Provincial House, Bangalore.

The training was aimed at enhancing the knowledge of the staff on substance use, prevention strategies and counselling skills to deliver quality and maximum impact through their work. The staff training commenced with the official inauguration by Fr. Jose Koyickal SDB (Provincial, Salesian Province of Bangalore). Fr Joy Nedumparambil SDB (Economer, Salesian Province of Bangalore) unveiled the DREAM posters designed to sensitise people on drug abuse and to publicise the services provided by the project. Fr Rubin Mathew SDB (Executive Director, BREADS), Fr. Deepu Mathew SDB (Asst. Director, BREADS), Fr. Binu Scaria SDB (State Director, DREAM project) graced the occasion with their presence.

The initial day of training sessions were led by Dr Jayant Mahadevan (Assistant Professor, Centre for Addiction Medicine Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS) and Dr S. Ubahara Sahayaraj (Consultant, Department of Psychiatry, Abhaya Hospital, Bangalore). They presented an overview of substance use disorders: signs and symptoms, assessment and management of addictions, prevention strategies, government agencies associated with deaddiction and schemes for treatment of addiction among individuals.

The second day focused on the Information, Education, Communication (IEC) Materials for training and documentation. The coordinators presented the programme activities over the past six months which helped the participants review their work, discuss flaws in implementation and share best practices to help them improve their strategies to meet programmatic goals effectively.