Following the 2009 Political Declaration and Plan of Action, UNODC has put both health and human rights at the center stage of countering the world drug problem.
As drug dependence often follows the course of a relapsing and remitting chronic health disorder, it is critically important, that individuals with drug use disorders receive nothing less than what is expected for any other chronic disease.
This appeal directly translates into the core area of work of the UNODC Drug Dependence Treatment and Rehabilitation unit, which is the provision of technical assistance to Member States in order to create humane, low-cost, effective and evidence-based drug treatment services.
Therefore, UNODC with regard to drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation, supports Member States in:
The UNODC Drug Dependence Treatment and Rehabilitation unit also facilitates access to the latest scientific publications and standards on the topic of drug dependence treatment and care and provides guidance on how to translate science into practice, also within low resource settings.
To secure accessible health care services, social protection, and a new outlook on life for those negatively affected by drug use disorders, whilst overcoming the prevailing stigma with regard to this disease, UNODC continues its efforts with determination, in providing direct support to Member States to: develop sound treatment and rehabilitation systems with a recovery framework; to enhance health and social service providers' capacities; to provide support to community-based services as well as to appropriate programmes for people with drug use disorders within the criminal justice system.
