August 2024
From 28 to 30 August 2024, the UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS), in coordination with the UNODC Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) and the National Institute of Social Defense (NISD), Government of India, organized a workshop on the Nature, Prevention and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders in Delhi, India. A total of 24 policymakers from India and two high-level representatives from the Maldives participated in the workshop, which aimed at identifying effective, evidence-based and health-centred national and regional policy responses to drug use and drug use disorders as well as the associated negative health and social consequences.
According to the 2024 World Drug Report, in Asia, amphetamine-type stimulants are the most commonly used drugs, followed by opioids. At the same time, only 5.1% of people affected by drug use disorders in Asia received treatment in 2022, with women receiving significantly less treatment than men. In addition, many young people and children are increasingly consuming drugs. A recently conducted survey shows that more than 25% of people in treatment are under 25 years old in South Asia and its surrounding regional areas1.
Guided by the UNODC-WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention and the UNODC/WHO International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders, participants shared their experiences and exchanged perspectives about the measures taken or to be taken to prevent drug use and increase the availability of, and access to, comprehensive systems of care for people with drug use disorders. Through collective analyses of the existing prevention interventions, treatment systems, and services, national priorities were identified and translated into action plans. This capacity-building opportunity is also aimed at building a collaborative network of policymakers at different levels and embracing a multisectoral approach to achieving common goals.
“This was a data-driven training and helped us align our strategies with international conventions using evidence-based approaches,” said a policymaker from the Maldives. “This has been an enriching experience to participate in deliberations with multiple stakeholders on prevention and treatment,” said a participant from India.
Marco Teixeira, Regional Representative, Regional Office for South Asia, UNODC, stated, “By bringing together public institutions, academic experts, treatment providers, civil society organizations, and health professionals, UNODC fosters a coordinated, cross-sectoral, and multidisciplinary strategy to address this complex issue of drug use disorders through a health-centred and human rights-based approach.” Furthermore, he emphasized that “there is a great need to tailor governmental responses” to the emerging trends such as the proliferation of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in the global market.
UNODC remains committed to supporting the Member States’ and regional efforts in strengthening evidence-based drug use prevention interventions as well as drug use disorder treatment systems and services for people in need. The workshop was implemented with the generous funding of the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (US/INL).
To access UNODC ROSA’s web story on the UNODC Policymakers Workshop, click here.
For more information, please contact: unodc-ptrs@un.org
Links:
To know more about the UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section, click here.
To access the UNODC-WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention (2018), click here.
To access the UNODC-WHO International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders (2020), click here.
To access the UNODC Policymakers Workshop on the Nature, Prevention and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders concept note click here
[1] 2024 World Drug Report
