About - ICPA

What the ICPA does

The ICPA promotes the prevention of the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATODs) as well as addictive behavior in general. The methods used are:

Education through conferences, seminars, workshops, and research associations.

Advocacy initiatives to governments, NGOs, sporting bodies and civil society in general regarding alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and other addictions.

Achieve promotion of mentoring and service programs among youth, communities, and educational institutions across the faith bases. Special emphasis on relationships is key.

Collaboration with organizations with similar aims and objectives in prevention and promotion of healthy relationships and addiction-free living.

Support of specific research programs in prevention and dissemination of evidence-based prevention methods and protocols. The ICPA enjoys a special and productive relationship with the Institute for the Prevention of Addictions (IPA) in the pursuit of the above-mentioned objectives.

Advocacy

The ICPA views advocacy regarding the problems related to tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use as essential. We continue to lobby that sports events are smoke free, that appropriate and informative labeling be applied to alcohol and tobacco products, and that the implementation of age-restriction on alcohol and cigarette purchasing be applied.

It is especially important to speak on behalf of those who have no voice and no choice (e.g. children affected by alcohol, drugs and tobacco, including fetal alcohol syndrome).

Education

The dissemination of current knowledge on addictions, prevention and promotion of healthy relationships is a core function of the ICPA.

This is done through world-wide and also regional conferences where ICPA brings together experts to share evidence-based, current and implementable strategies and interventions. The education component undergirds the promotion of mentoring and relationships (connectedness).

Mentoring

Based on the strong, robust evidence in the in the peer reviewed literature, mentoring is encouraged as and promoted as foundational in prevention strategies for keeping youth of all stages free from at-risk behavior.

This is promulgated in conferences, workshops, and intentional training initiatives for youth, youth workers, and training of trainers.

Value of Relationships to the work of the ICPA:

Human beings are hard-wired for connectedness and supportive relationships. Young people, who have positive, meaningful relationships with significant individuals in their lives, and a set of positive moral values, have increased protection against the development of at-risk behaviors, including addictions.

This approach embraces the fostering and nurturing of resilience. The Youth Alive initiative (Junior ICPA in some regions) is a key initiative in the promotion of protective, productive relationships.