Strategic Intervention Programme

The objectives of the strategic intervention (SI) Programme are to,

• identify and neutralize influences that promote drug use
• create a social milieu in which drug use is discouraged
• prevent initiation of drug use

SI programme conducts different types of campaigns and awareness programmes island-wide with the participation and support of volunteers, CBOs and GOs to achieve the above objectives. A continued commitment to public education is essential for changing the publics’ attitude on tobacco and alcohol. The SI team also acts as a watch dog in observing industry strategies to counter these strategies effectively.

Policy Advocacy Programme

National level policies to control alcohol and tobacco is necessary to drive forward prevention and create healthy, safe and happy environments for people and specially children. Policy and advocacy programme supports and works towards formulation and implementation of effective policies at national and local levels to discourage and control drug use, in line with international policies and recommendations. We work through different government structures, local governments, political parties, institutes, CBOs, media stations, communities and other structures.

We mobilized towards achieving the following key national policy milestones:

• The National Authority on Alcohol and Tobacco Act
• 80% pictorial health warnings (PHW) on cigarette packs
Reversing the Finance Minister’s decision to import cigarettes from China

Research and Evaluation Programme

Research and Evaluation Programme aim to develop and maintain ADIC as innovative and scientific evidence based resource centre for drug prevention nationally and internationally. To this end the following activities are conducted,

• Conducting scientific evidence based research studies on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
• Disseminating scientific evidence based research studies
• Evaluating programmes conducted by ADIC or donor funded projects
• Gaining recognition as a research centre nationally and internationally by submitting research studies to journals and conferences

Human Development and Administration

The Human Development programme is responsible for improving processes and policies, manage administrative staff and play a role in long-term organizational planning.

This programme manages human resources within ADIC such as building capacities of staff and volunteers, recruitment, progress reviews and appraisals, open discussions. It also manages the daily operation of ADIC.

Electronic and Print Media Programme

Media plays a significant role in shaping people’s beliefs and attitudes. This programme aims to effectively utilize the impact of media on Alcohol, Tobacco and other drug prevention. We work with all parties related to media such as Media heads, journalists, students who study media, school media clubs and policy makers related to media field.

Through this programme we,

• Expose media conncections with the alcohol and tobacco industries to the public
• Raise awareness within media stations and personnel on how the legal industries and illegal trade use media
• Use media to expose legal and illegal industry strategies to the public

The media programme maintains relationships with media stations and personnel, calls for media conferences, issues press releases and mobilizes media in reporting about alcohol, tobacco and drug issues relevant to the time.

Plantation Sector Programme

This programme aims to develop a sustainable process in reducing alcohol, tobacco and drug related problems in the plantation community. The plantation programme was initiated in 1995 with the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT) as a pilot project. It was extended to 9 estates in the phase I of the project with the support from Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) and the Plantation Development Project of the Ministry of Plantation Industries. Phase II continued with funding by Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Bank of International Corporation (JBIC).

Several of our results from this programme are,

• Reduction of the aggregate consumption of alcohol
• Reduction of youth getting initiated to consume alcohol
• Increase quitting of alcohol use by alcohol users and reduction in the frequency and the quantity consumed
• Reduction of demand for alcohol causing the selling points to reduce
• A marked difference in the incidents of violence, in the labor turnout especially during festivals, in the status of women and in the wellbeing of children

At presents ADIC has successfully completed the Alcohol Prevention Programmes in 100 estates under the Plantation Development Project of the Ministry of plantation industries during 2007/2009. Since 2009 to up to now ADIC is following up with the project in plantation sector.

Since 2017 ADIC uses two methodologies for this programme, model estates and macro level. Model estate programme focuses on four estates and macro level programme targets all plantation community.

Programme for Heroin Users to be Free from Drugs

The programme for heroin users focus on helping users to go beyond quitting use of heroin and become free of the drug. Various activities are conducted to support individuals with drug problems.

• Drop in Centre

Individuals who have drug use problems can come and go as they please. The only rule imposed is no substance use is allowed. Individuals are provided facilities to rest, play games and have discussions with ADIC support staff.

• One on one discussions with heroin users conducted by field workers
• Low cost community based camps
• Increase family and community support to become free of the drug
• Support groups
• Discussions with at risk groups
• Other activities toward a happier and healthier life such as sports, entertainement
• Follow up with individuals in the various stages towards becoming free from drugs

Currently we work with about 1000 heroin users in different stages of the process to becoming free.

Psychological Counselling Programme

Through this programme we provide individual counselling services to individuals with alcohol, tobacco and other drug use problems. A social psychological approach is used to prevent the drug related problems in the communities and rehabilitate the users. The clients who are unable to visit ADIC are treated over the phone or other convenient communication methods. Our clients are empowered to stop and be free from use of substances and change their behaviours.

Since October 2018, due to the demand and requests by professionals in the field for counselling training, ADIC started and continues training of trainers (TOT) workshops for counsellors to build capacity of counsellors and other health professionals in effectively providing services for individuals with drug use problems.

Library and Information Programme

The library and information programme focuses on collecting, storing and disseminating new information and scientific evidence on alcohol tobacco and other drug prevention nationally and internationally. The library provides support and resources to internal staff as well as external individuals and organizations to conduct drug prevention programmes.

Apart from the above we conduct print media analyses in English and Sinhala languages to identify patterns in how media stations and media personnel behave when reporting on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Our analyses are then used by the media programme to advocate towards responsible reporting of such issues.

Library Network

The library network programme connects and mobilizes librarians of the public library network to provide alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention information within libraries, campaign towards prevention and mobilize communities surrounding the libraries.