Symposium Examines Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Africa

Researchers from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States gathered in Jimma, Ethiopia, February 17–19, 2014, for a symposium to build research capacity on addiction and mental health. Fikre Lemessa, Ph.D., president of Jimma University chaired the conference. NIDA grantee Mustafa al’Absi, Ph.D., chaired the scientific committee. Dr. al’Absi directs the Khat Research Program and the Duluth Medical Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth. The International Brain Research Organization Africa Regional Committee and the biannual Africa and Middle East Conference on Addiction provided financial and logistical support for the symposium. The Khat Research Program plans to organize similar symposia in other African and Middle Eastern countries. See the program for the Jimma-Minnesota symposium.