The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA) in partnership with Mentor Arabia and the European Commission kicked off today at the Crowne Plaza Hotel-Beirut a regional workshop to train trainers on the school-based life skills education programme for drug abuse prevention called “Unplugged”.

Developed by the European Drug Abuse Prevention Trial (EU-Dap) Faculty and piloted in a number of European countries as well as in Central Asia, “Unplugged” is designed for students aged 12-14 years, and it involves both trained teachers and parents. It aims to reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other drugs through roughly 12 interactive sessions, with each session addressing a different topic such as decision-making, creative thinking, effective communication, relationship skills, self-awareness, empathy, coping skills and information on drugs. 

“This workshop which is organized with our strategic partners, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (ROMENA), in cooperation with the European Commission and the EU-Dap Faculty, is the first step towards translating and adapting the 'Unplugged' program to the Arab region,” said Mentor Arabia’s Executive Director Ramzi Naaman at the opening session.

“It is driven by our steadfast belief in mapping and matching evidence-based best practices in prevention, and in building long-standing partnerships with all stakeholders, particularly our Arab partners, represented by the esteemed participants with us today,” he added.

Also present at the opening session were representatives from the Lebanese Ministry of Education, and the UNODC-Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa.

The Arabic version piloting of “Unplugged” was launched on 8 April 2009 in this three-day regional workshop entitled “Training and Piloting School-based Education Programme for Drug Abuse Prevention” (ending on 10 April 2009).

The adaption of the programme will be assisted by expert delegations from the participating countries: Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine Authority Area, UAE and Kuwait.