WHO/Sergey Volkov
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Improving prevention and treatment for drug use disorders

The use of psychoactive drugs and psychotropic substances without medical supervision is associated with significant health risks and can lead to the development of drug use disorders. Untreated drug use disorders increase risks of morbidity and mortality for individuals, trigger substantial costs to society including lost productivity, increased health care expenditure, and costs related to criminal justice, social welfare, and other social consequences. Providing effective prevention, treatment and care services for drug use disorders as part of an integrated and well-coordinated treatment system is therefore an investment in the health of people with drug use disorders. It is also an investment in the healthy and safe development of families, communities and countries. 

According to the 11th revision of International Classification of Diseases the term “drug use disorder” comprises two major health conditions: “harmful pattern of drug use” and “drug dependence”. Drug use disorders are complex health conditions with psychosocial, environmental, and biological determinants, which need multidisciplinary, comprehensive and public health-oriented responses from different institutions and organizations working together. There is an increasing understanding that rather than being a “self-acquired bad habit”, drug dependence is the result of a long-term interaction of biological and environmental factors including social disadvantages and adversities, and that it can be prevented and properly addressed to improve population health and public safety.

Evidence clearly shows that drug use disorders are best managed within the public health system, like other chronic medical problems such as HIV infection or hypertension. Nevertheless, the idea of including the treatment of drug use disorders in the health care systems still faces resistance, partly owing to a delay in transferring science to policy and ultimately to the implementation of evidence-based clinical practices. 

WHO has constitutional mandate to address issues presented by drug use and drug use disorders and collaborates with other partners to support the development of comprehensive, evidence- and public health-based approaches that can reduce demand for illicit substances, relieve suffering and decrease drug-related harm to individuals, families, communities and societies.

 

35 million people

are estimated to be suffering from drug use disorders

World Drug Report

Only 50% countries

have methadone available for maintenance treatment of opioid dependence

ATLAS-SU

269 million

people have

used drugs in the previous year

World Drug Report

Publications

Community management of opioid overdose
These guidelines recommend that people who are likely to witness an opioid overdose, including people who use opioids, and their family and friends should...
The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)

The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) was developed for the World Health Organization (WHO) by an international group...

Guidelines for the psychosocially assisted pharmacological treatment of opioid dependence

The Guidelines for the psychosocially assisted pharmacological treatment of opioid dependence review the use of medicines such as methadone,...