His research and publication interests include strategies to decolonize and Indigenize social work educational experiences with an emphasis on relationality and how this applies to international social work engagement. His work has been published in Social Work Education and Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions.

The discussion also includes Indigenous models of wellness and how these might apply to addictions treatment and prevention service deliveries.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2722639/

https://www.ccnsa-nccah.ca/docs/health/FS-InuitQaujimajatuqangitWellnessNunavut-Tagalik-EN.pdf

How might traditional Indigenous concepts of health and wellness be employed not only in substance abuse treatment models, but also in prevention services?

How might some of these concepts apply to other non-Indigenous demographics?

His work focuses on social science research into HIV and addiction, project development and evaluation, particularly in the field of health promotion for vulnerable and marginalized groups, drug and HIV/Aids services, and evidence-based social work.

Open drug scenes in Germany are a risk environment for drug related harms. Homelessness, limited access to healthcare due to lack of health insurance, and frequent substance use exacerbate health and social challenges are very common. Expanding harm reduction services, including housing first initiatives, and low-threshold opioid substitution treatment access for individuals without health insurance, is crucial to address these issues.

Before that, I worked for 20 years in various social work positions. Most recently, I was a director in an organization that strongly developed harm reduction work in our area.

I have 2 university degrees in social work, a Master of Social Services and Master of Social Science. In addition to teaching, I work in various research and development projects related to substance abuse and addiction work. Currently I’m a Project Manager in 2 ongoing projects: Growing substance- and gambling free in Satakunta -subproject and JUHO – flexible reforms and well-being through inclusion.

Finally, we will learn about an EU-funded project JUHO, that started in September 2025, the purpose of which is to develop services by bringing professionals and drug users together in co-development.

Existing practices from a social work perspective

Co-development in JUHO EU-project

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00914509221128598

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/SAR.S304566#abstract

How do THL’s recommendations align with current practices in your own country or context?

In what ways can stigma affect both service delivery and clients’ willingness to seek help?

What role should social work play in connecting harm reduction with long-term social reintegration?

How might co-development projects like JUHO change the relationship between professionals and people who use drugs?

His research focuses primarily on behavioral health and addictions with a focus on life course development, alcohol use disorders, problem gambling, tobacco use, and behavioral health integration.

Sacco combines his behavioral health research with an interest in the training of social work students in evidence-supported behavioral health interventions. He served as the Project Director of a SAMHSA-funded Screening and Brief Intervention and Referral for Treatment (SBIRT) Training program (2014-2017) and continues to provide training in this public health approach. He also directed the BHWISE-Lifespan Fellows Program (2014-2025), a HRSA-funded workforce development project focused on integrated behavioral health training.

Sacco teaches in the foundation and clinical practice areas. He also teaches structural equation modeling in the PhD program. As an educator, he endeavors to support students in learning the latest from research while helping them to recognize the core elements of effective social work practice.

Participants will learn about substance-related screening approaches for older adults.

Participants will explore and discuss best practices for engaging and treating older adults who may be living with a substance use disorder

Sacco, P., Kuerbis, A., & Harris, R. (2020). Older adults and substance misuse. In A. L. Begun & M. M. Murray (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Social Work and Addictive Behaviors (pp. 247–261). Routledge. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429203121

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). TIP 26: Treating Substance Use Disorder in Older Adults. (PEP20-02-01-011). Rockville, MD.

What are some of the reasons why older adults might use substances?

In what ways could substance use treatment programs respond to population aging?

What are the most commonly used substances among older adults?

What are age, period, and cohort effects, and how might they influence substance use among older adults?

The research introduces the concept of “institutional social well-being of the prisoner” and develops an original model of the penitentiary social worker, which includes diagnostic, motivational, rehabilitative, and post-penitentiary components. Comparative analysis of international practices (Germany, Norway, Kyrgyzstan, China) highlights the limitations of Kazakhstan’s current system and substantiates the need for a hybrid approach adapted to post-Soviet conditions. The findings provide scientifically grounded recommendations for the institutionalization of social work in Kazakhstan’s penitentiary system and emphasize probation as a crucial mechanism for ensuring effective resocialization of vulnerable groups.

To analyze the role of social work in improving conditions for prisoners, including people living with HIV, in the penitentiary system.

To examine international experiences of penitentiary social work and their applicability to Kazakhstan.

To explore the development and functions of a penitentiary social worker model and its significance for probation and resocialization.

Mukasheva, D.D., & Stöver, H. (2024). Prison systems and HIV: How social work contributes to improving the quality of life of prisoners. Bulletin of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Pedagogy. Psychology. Sociology series, 149(4), 619–630. https://bulpedps.enu.kz/index.php/main/article/view/1015.

Stöver, H., & Mukasheva, D.D. (2023). Stigmatization of people living with HIV in Kazakhstan and the role of the social worker in overcoming it among women with incarceration experience. Bulletin of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Pedagogy. Psychology. Sociology series, 142(1), 473–484. https://bulpedps.enu.kz/index.php/main/issue/view/9/9.

Mukasheva, D.D., & Stöver, H. (2023). Challenges and needs of women in prison: A study on social and health factors. Bulletin of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Pedagogy. Psychology. Sociology series, 143(2), 443–455. https://bulpedps.enu.kz/index.php/main/article/view/340.

Yessimova, D.G., Baigabylov, N.O., Kudabekov, M.M., Baltabaeva, Zh.B., Mukasheva, D.D., & Zhamankulova, Zh.S. (2021). Social work with people living with HIV infection and people using drugs in Kazakhstan. Bulletin of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Pedagogy. Psychology. Sociology series, 3(136), 289–300. https://doi.org/10.32523/2616-6895-2021-136-3-289-300.

Mukasheva, D.D. (2025). Социокультурные факторы интеграции международных стандартов в пенитенциарную систему Казахстана: качественная оценка. Вестник КазНПУ имени Абая. Серия: социологические и политические науки. https://bulletin-socpolit.kaznpu.kz/index.php/ped/article/view/610.

Tulkinbayev, N.A., Kudabekov, M.M., Konvisar, A.A., & Mukasheva, D.D. (2023). Роль неправительственных организаций и государства в ресоциализации и социальной адаптации осужденных. В сборнике Международной научно-практической конференции: Противодействие религиозному экстремизму в местах лишения свободы: вызовы и стратегические приоритеты (pp. 106–115). Алматы: Костанайская академия МВД РК. ISBN 978-601-361-326-0.

What kind of cooperation is needed between prisons, NGOs, and health services to make resocialization more effective?

How can stigma from staff and society be reduced so that former prisoners with HIV can find work and housing?

Author of over 40 publications, she also develops educational standards, serves as an accreditation expert, and supervises PhD and postgraduate research. Her achievements were recognized with the Excellence in Social Protection award (2019) and the Jubilee Medal 20 Years of the Penal System (2024).

·       Identify key approaches and methods of social work with people dependent on psychoactive substances in Kyrgyzstan.

·       Understand the legal framework in this field, as well as the early warning mechanism for the emergence of new drugs, psychoactive substances, precursors, and their substitutes in the Kyrgyz Republic.

·       Recognize cultural and gender-specific factors influencing social work practice in this field.

Uulu, T. E. (2023, April). 11 Legal and Regulatory Frameworks of Social Work with Drug Users in Kyrgyzstan. In Social Work and Health in Prisons (pp. 219-234). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG.

Liberman, A. R., Kurmanalieva, A., Biibosunova, D. I., Shumskaya, N., Ivasiy, R., Bromberg, D. J., Madden, L. M., & Altice, F. L. (2024). Trajectory and progress of opioid agonist therapy programs in the Kyrgyz Republic. Global health economics and sustainability, 2(4), 2536. https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.2536

National policy makers and key stakeholders in Kyrgyzstan are increasing their knowledge of the quality assurance system for drug use disorders through UNODC training https://www.issup.net/knowledge-share/news/2022-12/national-policymakers-and-key-stakeholders-kyrgyzstan-expand-their

Постановление Кабинета Министров КР от 31.07.2025 г., № 460. Об утверждении Положения о механизме раннего оповещения о появлении новых наркотиков, новых психоактивных веществ, предпрекурсоров и заменителей прекурсоров в Кыргызской Республике.

 https://www.gov.kg/ru/npa/s/4691

In your opinion, what are the strengths and challenges of combining harm reduction approaches with legal frameworks and early warning systems in addressing new psychoactive substances?

Which international best practices in social work with people with substance use issues could be adapted to the Kyrgyz context, and why?