International nursing leadership related to the drugs phenomenon: a case study of the partnership experience between the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and the University of Alberta - Faculty of Nursing

Abstract

In this article, the authors discuss the value of international health in advancing the nursing profession through the development of strong leadership in the area of drug demand reduction. Paradigms for nursing leadership are briefly reviewed and linked to the development of the "International Nursing Leadership Institutes" organized by the Inter-American Commission for the Control of Drug Abuse (CICAD). The "International Nursing Leadership Institutes" have facilitated the implementation of Phase III of the CICAD Schools of Nursing Project: a) planning and implementing the first "International Research Capacity-Building Program for Nurses to Study the Drug Phenomenon in Latin America", b) development of Regional and National Strategic Plans for Nursing Professionals in the Area of Demand Reduction in Latin America, and c) preparation of a document that provides guidelines on how to include drug content into undergraduate and graduate nursing curricula. The article also brings reflections directly from several of the participants in the first International Research Capacity-Building Program for Nurses to Study the Drug Phenomenon in the Americas, offered in collaboration with the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. These reflections demonstrate the multiplicity of ways in which this capacity-building program has made it easier for these members of Latin American Schools of Nursing to show leadership in the area of drug demand reduction.

Nursing and Substance Use Disorders in Mexico

“…While Mexican nurses were not engaged in the early stages of this project, by 2001 some nurses were enrolled in CICAD’s project through public universities, such as the University of Nuevo Leon (UANL), the University of Guanajuato and the University of Queretaro. The nurses received training at the University of Alberta, Canada through scholarships funded initially by the Government of Japan, and then by the governments of US and Canada (Wright et al, 2005). The training provided by CICAD was comprised of three basic components that provide the scientific basis to develop an understanding of drug issues: education activities, outreach activities and drug research studies (Wright & Lujan, 2013).…”

The ES/CICAD/OAS schools of nursing project: a model of excellence for professional and scientific development on drug related issues in Latin America

“…From 2003 to the present, ES/CICAD has been implementing another advanced research capacity-building program entitled "International research capacitybuilding program for health related professionals to study drug issues in Latin America and the Caribbean"(IRCBP), which has been carried out in partnership with the University of Alberta-Faculty of Nursing in Edmonton/Canada (first offer [2003][2004], and the subsequent offers with the Center of Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) (2006-to present) in Toronto/Canada. [14][15][16]…”

Lunchtime as a therapeutic moment: a health education approach with alcohol-dependent women

“…The use of certain substances that favor social relationships, mark festivities or mystical/religious rituals is observed in virtually all cultures at different points in time. Although society has been affected by its consequences for a long time, its recognition as a health problem is recent and national and international organizations, governments, universities and firms are attentive to the political, economic and social aspects of this issue (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) .…”