ISSUP Malaysia

23/04/2026

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to share an interesting podcast from ISSUP – The ISSUP Exchange.

The 5th episode features Ashwin Thind, a Clinical Psychologist and International Certified Addiction Professional (ICAP II), who shares insights on substance use, behavioural addictions, and trauma-related mental health.

It’s a very informative session, especially for those interested in prevention and recovery work.

🎧 Listen here: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/6f99008d-045f-4a07-b06a-512da8531413

22/04/2026

Community Engagement in Action

Recently, an ISSUP Malaysia member, Dr. Mohd. Nazri participated in a community programme in Tambuluran Village, Kudat, focusing on health, smoking, and alcohol education.

The programme brought together medical students, healthcare professionals, and the local community through health screenings, dialogue session, and educational booths on prevention.

The strong community response reflects the importance of continued collaboration in promoting health awareness and building healthier, more resilient communities.

08/04/2026

Reimagining Prevention: What Really Works for Youth – From Evidence to Practice to Systems

Joining this webinar was a powerful reminder that prevention is about building systems that last.

What resonated deeply:
🔹 Families and communities are the foundation.
🔹 Prevention science guides us with evidence, not assumptions.
🔹 Youth leadership transforms engagement into relatable, impactful action.
🔹 Effective prevention must be early, sustained, and multi-level.
🔹 Our generation faces unique challenges—identity crises, misinformation, and mental health pressures—that demand holistic solutions.

What stood out most: We don’t lack evidence. We struggle to use it effectively. Moving forward, our collective responsibility is to bridge fragmented efforts into integrated systems that empower young people and communities alike.

08/04/2026

Emotional well-being grows stronger when we share, listen, celebrate, and support each other.

Take small steps. Tell your story, seek empathy, build rituals, and expand your circle. Being together makes us strong and resilient. ✨

25/03/2026

ISSUP Malaysia 🇲🇾 invites you to join its upcoming webinar: "Reimagining Prevention: What Really Works for Youth- From Evidence to Practice to Systems ". This webinar brings together international experts from Mexico 🇲🇽, Singapore 🇸🇬, and Kenya 🇰🇪, with facilitation by a distinguished Malaysian expert, offering a rich, multi-perspective exploration of evidence-based prevention for youth.

🗓️ Wednesday, 8th April, 2026
⏰ 8:00 PM Malaysian Time | 1:00 PM London

Register now 🔗: https://ow.ly/xRJu50Yy22l

20/03/2026

✨🌙 Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri! 🌙✨

Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Eid filled with joy, peace, and togetherness. May this season of forgiveness and renewal strengthen the bonds of family and community.

13/03/2026

Reflections from CND 69 Side Event

Today I had the privilege of speaking at a side event during the 69th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs titled:

“Building Resilient Youth and Families for Drug Prevention.”

Grateful to join colleagues and partners from different parts of the world, including Pakistan Youth Organization, World Federation Against Drugs, Drug Abuse Prevention Center Japan, and Association Proyecto Hombre, to discuss how prevention must continue to evolve.

One reflection I shared during the session continues to stay with me:

“Prevention is not merely the absence of drugs.
It is the presence of resilient children, supported families, and mentally healthy schools.”

If we truly want prevention to work, we must move beyond simply warning young people about risks. We need to strengthen the environments around them — schools that build life skills, families that nurture connection, and communities that support mental wellbeing.

Grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important global conversation and to represent the work being done in Malaysia through the Organisation for Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Recovery (OAPTAR).

Together, prevention becomes stronger when we build resilience, connection, and hope.

At the 69th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, a side event titled “Building Resilient Youth and Families for Drug Prevention” brought together prevention practitioners and partners from different regions to explore how prevention approaches must evolve in response to the complex reali...

18/02/2026

Strengthening Parental Engagement in Preventing Adolescent Va**ng

On 24 January 2026, ISSUP Malaysia Chapter, in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Hospital UMS (HUMS), Sabah National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), PERDESA, and PEMADAM, supported Sekolah Menengah Lok Yuk, Kota Kinabalu in conducting a Parental Engagement Program on the dangers of v**e and electronic ci******es.

The rising use of high-nicotine and synthetic va**ng products among adolescents presents significant health, addiction, and disciplinary challenges. Effective prevention requires early intervention and strong collaboration between schools, parents, and prevention agencies.

The program included:

• Awareness session on substance use trends among adolescents
• Discussion on health risks and challenges in managing synthetic va**ng
• Targeted intervention for identified students
• Engagement dialogue between teachers, PIBG, and collaborating agencies

Program facilitated by Dr Mohd Nazri, Deputy Director of ISSUP Malaysia.

The initiative strengthened parent–school collaboration and reinforced the importance of coordinated, multi-agency prevention efforts in creating safe and supportive school environments.

ISSUP Malaysia remains committed to advancing evidence-based prevention and strengthening systems that protect youth from substance use harms.

17/02/2026

Wishing you all a year filled with big wins, steady health, and the kind of joy that keeps you moving forward. 🧧🏮

03/02/2026

✨ We’re proud to unveil our brand-new website! ✨

OAPTAR is stepping into a fresh digital chapter with a redesigned home page that makes it easier than ever to connect, learn, and grow together.

Take a look, share it with your network, and join us in building stronger connections for prevention and treatment advocacy!

📌 www.oaptarmalaysia.net

03/02/2026

Building Protective Factors Starts at Home 💙

Our Family-Based Prevention (Family Strengthening) Programmes are designed to strengthen protective factors within families because strong families are the foundation of resilient communities.

Through guided activities, parents and children learn to:
✨ Communicate more openly and respectfully
✨ Strengthen emotional bonding
✨ Resolve conflicts together in healthy ways

Families are encouraged to shift their focus from flaws to strengths, learning to recognise and appreciate the positive qualities in one another. By listening more deeply, family members begin to understand each other better and respond with empathy and gratitude.

Children learn their role as responsible and caring family members, while parents and guardians model a stronger emotional connection, presence, and support.

When families grow stronger together, we build resilience. Not just at home, but across communities

Strong families build resilient communities for a healthier Malaysia MADANI

30/01/2026

KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS SAFE

Developing effective SOPs for handling adolescent mental health issues requires more than guidelines it requires shared understanding, practical skills, and confident counsellors.

Yesterday’s workshop brought school counsellors together to discuss real scenarios, practise communication, and strengthen school-based responses that are empathetic, ethical, and evidence-informed.

This is capacity building in action grounded, practical, and human.