Treatnet Family – Elements of family therapy for adolescents with substance use disorders: Implementation in low-resource settings

Introduction/Objectives: Substance use among adolescents remains a concern globally, with adolescence being a peak period for initiating substance use while brain development is still ongoing and young people are exposed to many risk factors. The prevalence of cannabis use in the age group 15-16 (5.5%) was estimated higher than in the general population (4.4%) globally [1]. With the aim to address this public health issue, UNODC, in close coordination with WHO, developed a science-informed, skills-based training package, called Treatnet Family, to support practitioners working with adolescents with substance use disorders and their families, including those in contact with or at risk in contact with the criminal justice system. Treatnet Family, aligned with the UNODC-WHO International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders [2], consists of elements of family therapy. The feasibility and acceptability of Treatnet Family was demonstrated through feasibility studies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: This workshop will showcase the impact of Treatnet Family for adolescents with substance use disorders and their families, such as reduced drug-related problems among youths, reduced substance consumption, reduced mental health problems, and improved family interaction. Updates on implementation in 34 LMICs will be provided, and opportunities and challenges with regard to Treatnet Family implementation, follow-up and scaling up will be discussed. The acceptability and feasibility of using digital technology to train community practitioners on Treatnet Family has been tested during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2024, UNODC launched a self-paced Treatnet Family course on the UNODC Global e-Learning platform to compliment in-person training.

Conclusions: UNODC, in coordination with UN Member States and partner agencies, continues to provide technical support to enhance the national-level health and social systems addressing substance use and substance use disorders among adolescents focused on capacity development of practitioners.