History

SAPTA is an acronym for Support for Addictions Prevention and Treatment in Africa. The organization was registered as a Kenya nonprofit organization in March 2004 under the name of SAPTA Trust. At inception, the objectives of SAPTA were provision of educational programs for addiction counselors; running of community based prevention programs; advocacy for greater access to treatment; promotion of professionalism in the addiction field through strengthening and capacity building for treatment centers; and outpatient treatment. The first SAPTA Trust board consisted of members drawn from diverse professions and social backgrounds. Also at that time, SAPTA Foundation was registered as a USA nonprofit organization for the financial support of SAPTA Trust.

SAPTA is recognized by the National Association of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors (NAADAC – USA) as an approved addiction counseling training center. It is the only NAADAC approved center in Africa and the only organization in Kenya offering diploma training in addictions counseling. It is also among the few organizations specializing in offering substance abuse prevention and treatment programs. This puts the organization at a vantage point not only because of its accreditation by NAADAC but also due to the quality and uniqueness of its services. For a long time, substance addiction and its link to other social economic problems such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, crime and disintegration of social structures has been ignored thus leaving a huge gap in provision of social services by government agencies and other actors. SAPTA existence is therefore aimed at addressing substance abuse and related problems in the society by coming up with evidence based and quality programs built on basic overarching prevention and treatment principles