UNODC-WHO Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care – Perspectives and experiences from 15 years of collaboration and opportunities for the future

Introduction/Objectives: Drug use remains high globally, posing a public health concern. The UNODC World Drug Report 2024 [1] estimates the prevalence of drug use at 5.6%, with 292 million people having used an internationally controlled substance worldwide, and 64 million people living with drug use disorders. The treatment gap widened in the last 5 years, with only one in 11 having access to treatment. In order to address this gap while ensuring quality of drug dependence treatment, since 2009, UNODC and WHO have promoted evidence- and human rights-based drug use disorder treatment through the implementation of the UNODC-WHO Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care [2] and developed a range of initiatives, including the UNODC-WHO International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders (the Standards) [3] and the S-O-S initiative on overdose management to demonstrate the feasibility of evidence-based responses in different settings. Urgent investment is needed in the light of the growing threat from synthetic drugs to strengthen national health systems to provide effective responses for people with drug use disorders, their families, and communities.

Methods: This workshop will provide an overview of milestones from 15 years of the UNODC-WHO work in response to synergic mandates from UN Member States. The workshop will seek feedback on emerging initiatives and tools such as the Implementation toolkit of the Standards, the #ScaleUp initiative on scalable interventions for the treatment and care of stimulant use disorders and new guidelines on opioid use disorder treatment.

Conclusions: UNODC and WHO count on a longstanding interagency partnership, supporting UN Member States in implementing health-centred, ethical responses to drug use disorders, with a view to improving the health of people using drugs, their families, and communities. The workshop will provide an opportunity for suggestions and considerations to develop the programme into the future.