The Scottish Drugs Forum will be launching the new SDF Learning Centre website later this year. From the SDF Learning Centre you will be able to access information relating to all of our training courses, e-learning, and qualifications. This website will be retired after the launch of the SDF Learning Centre, and no user data will be stored or transferred. If you have accessed SDF's training or e-learning in the past, you can learn how to download your current training and e-learning certificates by selecting this link.
IF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN YOUR LOGIN DETAILS, PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT, CONTACT SDF DIRECTLY TO REQUEST A PASSWORD RESET.
Please note:
SDF provide training free of charge, however the increase in non-attendance and increased waiting lists for the courses has caused non-attendance to be subject to a charge. If you are no longer able to attend, we would be grateful if you could let us know as soon as possible. Our courses are very popular with a high demand for places. By letting us know we would be able to reallocate your place to someone on the waiting list.
Once you have registered for an event you will receive a confirmation email from SDF Training. If the training is an online session, this email will include a link to the Microsoft Teams meeting. Please check your junk email folder if the confirmation email does not arrive shortly after registering.

This session will take place via Microsoft Teams and is due to finish at 3.30 pm. There will be a break in the morning, a 30min break for lunch and a break in the afternoon session.
Our training attracts attendees from a wide range of sectors and we encourage active participation in our sessions through group discussions and by inviting individuals to offer comments on issues relevant to their role. If you have any concerns about participating within this interactive format please highlight this in the additional needs section of the booking form.
Overview
Good empathic listening is fundamental in the helping relationship. Called accurate empathy by Carl Rogers (1965), it is the cornerstone for person-centred practice. It is fundamental to good communication. In this course, we practise refining empathic listening skills and address other core communication skills that are important in the helping relationship.
Aim
To practise core communication skills with a focus on expressing accurate empathy through reflective listening skills.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of course you will have:
- Observed & debriefed a demonstration of the interpersonal style and core communication skills used in a helping relationship.
- Practised the interpersonal style and primary core communication skills.
Start Date | 04-09-2025 |
Start Time | 9:15 am |
End Date | 04-09-2024 |
End Time | 3:30 pm |
Available places | 0 |
Individual Price | Free |
Event Type | Core Skills |
Local Authority Area | Scotland Wide |
Event Commissioner | Scottish Government |
Location | Online via Microsoft Teams |

Our training attracts attendees from a wide range of sectors and we encourage active participation in our sessions through group discussions and by inviting individuals to offer comments on issues relevant to their role. If you have any concerns about participating within this interactive format please highlight this in the additional needs section of the booking form.
Overview
Stigma can have a profound impact upon the lives of people who use alcohol and other drugs or those who have a history of substance use. The impact of stigma can permeate numerous aspects of a person’s life such as their health and wellbeing, relationships, education and employment prospects and socioeconomic status.
Commonly, family, friends, service providers and institutions often place numerous expectations on people who use substances to engage in change behaviour, however, the social context that creates and perpetuates the cycle of stigma is rarely considered or challenged. Through developing a greater awareness of the wider context that the cycle of stigma fosters and exploring our own role in reinforcing and challenging stigma, participants can identify new approaches for fostering enhanced relationships with service users.
Aim
This one-day training will give participants a distinct set of knowledge and skills to help them understand and address alcohol and drug-related stigma.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Describe the impact of stigma on people who use substances, people in treatment or in recovery from substance use
- Recall language which de-stigmatises people affected by substance use.
- Describe how stigma and discrimination impact on the quality and effectiveness of service delivery.
- Identify institutional and structural stigma attached to people who use substances, people in treatment or in recovery from substance use.
Start Date | 09-09-2025 |
Start Time | 9:15 am |
End Date | 09-09-2025 |
End Time | 1:30 pm |
Available places | 0 |
Individual Price | Free |
Event Type | Core Skills |
Local Authority Area | Scotland Wide |
Event Commissioner | Scottish Government |
Location | Online via Microsoft Teams |

Developed and delivered by SDF, funded by Glasgow HSCP & ADP
Our interactive facilitator-led training takes place on MS Teams and currently is only available to those who work in Glasgow City.
Our training attracts attendees from a wide range of sectors and we encourage active participation in our sessions through group discussions and by inviting individuals to offer comments on issues relevant to their role. If you have any concerns about participating within this interactive format please highlight this in the additional needs section of the booking form.
Course Overview
This online training aims to increase drug awareness and knowledge and participants will have the opportunity to explore current and emerging trends within substance use. The training will consider harm reduction and support strategies.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session participants will be able to:
- Name the seven key drug categories and their key effects
- Recall an overview of the key substances in use
- Identify the reasons why people choose to use drugs and alcohol
- Recall poly-drug use and dependant substance use patterns
- Describe signs of overdose and how to respond
- Identify effective techniques to support people who use drugs and alcohol.
Our courses are very popular. If you find you are unable to make it then please let us know as soon as possible so we can allocate your place to someone on the waiting list.
Please check, in some email systems your SDF booking email can land in a spam or junk folder. Make sure you don’t miss it.
Start Date | 10-09-2025 |
Start Time | 9:15 am |
End Date | 10-09-2025 |
End Time | 1:15 pm |
Available places | 7 |
Individual Price | Free |
Event Type | Core Skills |
Local Authority Area | Glasgow City |
Event Commissioner | NHS GGC |
Location | Online via Microsoft Teams |

Developed and delivered by SDF, funded by Glasgow HSCP & ADP
Our interactive facilitator-led training takes place on MS Teams and currently is only available to those who work in Glasgow City.
Our online training attracts attendees from a wide range of sectors and we encourage active participation in our sessions through group discussions and by inviting individuals to offer comments on issues relevant to their role. If you have any concerns about participating within this interactive format please highlight this in the additional needs section of the booking form.
Course Overview
This online training aims to increase awareness, knowledge of multiple risk and young people. Participants will have the opportunity to explore multiple risk and what that means in practice when working with young people.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session participants will be able to:
- Identify common risk behaviours displayed by young people.
- Define multiple risk.
- Discuss positive and negative aspects of risk.
- Identify common risk behaviours.
- Recall the factors and Adverse Childhood Experiences that influence risk taking and identify the impact of these on resilience.
- Demonstrate effective signposting and interventions which tackle multiple risk, build resilience, and support post-traumatic growth.
Our courses are very popular. If you find you are unable to make it then please let us know as soon as possible so we can allocate your place to someone on the waiting list.
Please check, in some email systems your SDF booking email can land in a spam or junk folder. Make sure you don’t miss it.
Start Date | 23-09-2025 |
Start Time | 9:15 am |
End Date | 23-09-2025 |
End Time | 1:15 pm |
Available places | 12 |
Individual Price | Free |
Event Type | Core Skills |
Local Authority Area | Glasgow City |
Event Commissioner | NHS GGC |
Location | Online via Microsoft Teams |

PLEASE NOTE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COURSE, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE COMPLETED THE E-LEARNING: Overdose Prevention, Intervention and Naloxone
An in-depth half-day session online looking at naloxone and the effect it has on reducing drug-related deaths. Followed by a reflective practice session approx. 4 weeks later to consolidate and embed training in practice.
This course will cover the core areas of drug-related deaths on a global, national and local scale, opiate overdose prevention and risk factors and high-risk times for overdose. It explores methods and models of community-based delivery and adult learning.
The training will also give an overview of global naloxone activity and of the renowned Scottish National Naloxone Programme. There will be an in-depth look at naloxone, its actions, kit assembly and administration of both injectable and intranasal products. Specific attention will be paid to overdose intervention and basic life support with naloxone.
Following this training, participants will be able to train people at risk of opioid overdose/their families etc, in overdose prevention, intervention and naloxone.
Following the introduction of legislation on 1st October 2015, all staff working in drug services can supply naloxone without the need for a prescription or Patient Group Direction. In June 2020 the legislation was relaxed to allow other services to supply naloxone for the duration of COVID once registered with the Scottish Government. Following this training staff will feel competent to support this supply.
Anyone who completes this training can provide awareness sessions on overdose prevention/naloxone to individuals, staff and services, etc.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session participants will be able to:
- Describe evidence-based overdose prevention and naloxone messages.
- Demonstrate an understanding of Scotland's National Naloxone Programme.
- Identify observable signs and symptoms of a depressant overdose and advise of the appropriate response accordingly.
- Demonstrate the skills and knowledge to provide training and to supply (if applicable) take-home naloxone to people who use opioids or those likely to witness an overdose.
- Deliver training in overdose prevention, intervention and naloxone.
- Provide awareness sessions to other staff on overdose prevention/naloxone.
- Be confident and competent to supply naloxone without the need for a prescription or patient group direction in line with legislation.
Reflection and Consolidation Session (2 per year)
The purpose of this second session is to explore and support embedding the learning from Naloxone Training for Trainers into practice.
We will discuss starting the naloxone conversation, brief interventions, training, barriers and solutions. We will discuss case studies and individuals will be encouraged to bring examples from their practice to this session for further discussion.
Start Date | 07-10-2025 |
Start Time | 9:30 am |
End Date | 07-10-2025 |
End Time | 1:00 pm |
Available places | 0 |
Individual Price | Free |
Local Authority Area | Scotland Wide |
Event Commissioner | Scottish Government |
Location | Online via Microsoft Teams |

PLEASE NOTE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS COURSE, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT TO HAVE COMPLETED THE E-LEARNING: Overdose Prevention, Intervention and Naloxone
An in-depth half-day session online looking at naloxone and the effect it has on reducing drug-related deaths. Followed by a reflective practice session approx. 4 weeks later to consolidate and embed training in practice.
This course will cover the core areas of drug-related deaths on a global, national and local scale, opiate overdose prevention and risk factors and high-risk times for overdose. It explores methods and models of community-based delivery and adult learning.
The training will also give an overview of global naloxone activity and of the renowned Scottish National Naloxone Programme. There will be an in-depth look at naloxone, its actions, kit assembly and administration of both injectable and intranasal products. Specific attention will be paid to overdose intervention and basic life support with naloxone.
Following this training, participants will be able to train people at risk of opioid overdose/their families etc, in overdose prevention, intervention and naloxone.
Following the introduction of legislation on 1st October 2015, all staff working in drug services can supply naloxone without the need for a prescription or Patient Group Direction. In June 2020 the legislation was relaxed to allow other services to supply naloxone for the duration of COVID once registered with the Scottish Government. Following this training staff will feel competent to support this supply.
Anyone who completes this training can provide awareness sessions on overdose prevention/naloxone to individuals, staff and services, etc.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session participants will be able to:
- Describe evidence-based overdose prevention and naloxone messages.
- Demonstrate an understanding of Scotland's National Naloxone Programme.
- Identify observable signs and symptoms of a depressant overdose and advise of the appropriate response accordingly.
- Demonstrate the skills and knowledge to provide training and to supply (if applicable) take-home naloxone to people who use opioids or those likely to witness an overdose.
- Deliver training in overdose prevention, intervention and naloxone.
- Provide awareness sessions to other staff on overdose prevention/naloxone.
- Be confident and competent to supply naloxone without the need for a prescription or patient group direction in line with legislation.
Reflection and Consolidation Session (2 per year)
The purpose of this second session is to explore and support embedding the learning from Naloxone Training for Trainers into practice.
We will discuss starting the naloxone conversation, brief interventions, training, barriers and solutions. We will discuss case studies and individuals will be encouraged to bring examples from their practice to this session for further discussion.
Start Date | 16-12-2025 |
Start Time | 9:30 am |
End Date | 16-12-2025 |
End Time | 1:00 pm |
Available places | 16 |
Individual Price | Free |
Local Authority Area | Scotland Wide |
Event Commissioner | Scottish Government |
Location | Online via Microsoft Teams |
Our Office
Scottish Drugs Forum
91 Mitchell Street
Glasgow
G1 3LN
T: 0141 221 1175