India: UNODC training equips policymakers and healthcare administrators with evidence-based strategies for Opioid Agonist Therapy

Kolkata, India/22 June 2023: Globally, opioids are the most widely injected drugs, with heroin being the most commonly injected opioid. Opioid dependence contributes to significant morbidity and mortality. In 2019, 62 million people used opioids worldwide. Opioids accounted for 80 per cent of drug use disorder-related disability adjusted life years in 2017. Most of the deaths and disability were due to overdose and the consequences of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and HIV infection. The use and sharing of contaminated drug-injecting equipment has become the predominant mode of HIV and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs.

In response, high-quality Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) involves the prescription of opioid agonist medications at appropriate doses for long or maintenance periods, with access to evidence-based psychosocial interventions. Opioid agonist medications, usually methadone or buprenorphine, are the core of OAT services. OAT is considered one of the most effective treatment for opioid dependence and improves other health and social outcomes.

Focusing on this, a two-day training on establishing and delivering evidence-based, high-quality OAT services was delivered to over 35 Indian health policymakers and officials in Kolkata. Held under the UBRAF mechanism, the training equipped participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to combat drug addiction effectively using the operational tool, "Establishing and delivery of evidence-based, good quality, effective Opioid Agonist Therapy services,” developed by UNODC and WHO.

By utilizing this tool, managers, physicians, and drug treatment professionals can establish and deliver OAT services that are based on solid evidence, ensuring their quality and effectiveness.

Recognizing the importance of “leaving no one behind”, Marco Teixeira, Regional Representative of UNODC Regional Office for South Asia emphasized the significance of addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, including people in prisons and closed settings.

“To achieve SDG target 3.3 and the UNAIDS Fast-Track strategy for ending AIDS by 2030, it is crucial to address the needs of the most marginalized and vulnerable people including who use drugs who are at risk of HIV, with specific attention to the intersections among key populations,” Mr. Teixeira said.

By equipping health policymakers and administrators with the knowledge and tools to establish and implement OAT programs, UNODC seeks to enhance the accessibility and quality of treatment services for people who use drugs.

During the two-day training, participants received comprehensive insights into the operational tool developed by UNODC, gaining a deeper understanding of its application in their respective roles and responsibilities.

The workshop fostered a collaborative environment, encouraging participants to exchange experiences and ideas, laying the foundation for future partnerships and initiatives in combating drug addiction.

With the training, participants will be suitably equipped  to champion evidence-based OAT services in their own regions and promote collective efforts for a healthier society.

This activity contributed to SDG 3, SDG 5 and SDG 17: https://sdg-tracker.org/

(Supported by the UBRAF Mechanism)