In a bid to curb the rising tide of substance use disorders across the country, the Global Centre for Credentialing and Certification (GCCC) has unveiled the Universal Recovery Curriculum (URC) in Nigeria.
Organised in partnership with the Sound Mind Initiative, a mental health advocacy group, the URC is a five-day intensive training initiative designed to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to support individuals through addiction recovery.
It aims to build a sustainable, community-based workforce capable of delivering effective support to those battling addiction.
The launch of the programme comes against the backdrop of growing concerns over the impact of substance abuse on individuals, families, and communities. While speaking at the programme’s opening session, international recovery expert, Dr Peter Adeniwoyan, stressed that recovery entails more than just abstaining from drugs or alcohol, and described it as “a journey of self-discovery” where individuals learn to navigate life’s challenges without resorting to substance use.
He explained that the participants are undergoing training on a wide range of topics, including the neurobiology of addiction, with emphasis on how substances stimulate the brain’s reward system through dopamine.
Adeniwoyan said that while physical dependency and substance use disorder may seem similar, only the latter disrupts brain regions such as the brainstem, limbic system, and cortex by triggering the reward centre.
According to him, the URC is structured into two tracks: one for individuals in recovery and another for those who are not. He noted that upon completing the programme, participants will have the opportunity to sit for a certification exam administered by the Global Centre for Credentialing and Certification (GCCC), qualifying them as certified recovery support professionals.
He called on government officials to implement stricter measures to curb both the supply and demand of addictive substances. He urged regulatory actions such as limiting sales during work hours or on designated days, noting that “if there’s no demand, there’s no supply.”
