Since 1998, UNODC has worked to develop demand reduction strategies worldwide by promoting evidence-based, locally appropriate treatment and rehabilitation opportunities. Project GLO/H43, "International network of drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation resource centres" was initiated in 2005 with the aim to improve the provision of diversified and effective drug treatment and rehabilitation services, including the support to HIV/AIDS prevention and care, in several regions. The project's main objective is to support an international network of drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation resource centres from all regions, capable to deliver and disseminate a variety of effective drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation interventions in their respective areas.

 

The project will achieve this objective by:

	Identifying and selecting 20 drug treatment and rehabilitation centres from all regions to become resource centres
	Supporting four working groups through the process of developing best practice documents in four priority topics
	Developing a capacity building package
	Implementing a capacity building plan that includes the training of professionals at resource centres and empowering them to act as trainers and multipliers in their respective regions.

The Network has been named

TREATNET and its members are:

	20 drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation resource centres
	Training Consortium led by UCLA/ISAP
	UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Unit (Headquarters)
	Task Force (UNODC Field Offices)
	Partners (ILO, WHO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NIATx, ATTC, NIDA, EMCDDA, CICAD, UNAIDS)
	Associated Training Providers

TREATNET aims to provide diversified, effective and quality drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation services, including HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Its main strategy is to promote dialigue and the sharing of experience amongts its members and with its partners. For a period of two years the members of TREATNET will focus on two main goals: identifying and sharing good practices for drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation, and improving the capacity to deliver quality services.

Identifying and sharing good practices: The network has identified four areas of drug dependence and rehabilitation. By sharing good practices the aim is to assist service providers to improve the quality of services and to guide policy makers in programming and planning. Special attention will be given to the needs of women and young people.

The four priority areas are as follows:

	Community based treatment
	Drug dependece treatment and rehabilitation in prison settings
	Role of drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation on HIV/AIDS prevention and care
	Sustainable livelihoods for reintegration and rehabilitation

Capacity building component:

The capacity building component will be implemented by a consortium of ten leading institutions on drug dependence treatment training and service provision, led by the University of California, Los Angeles/Integrated Substance Abuse Programme (UCLA/ISAP). The network's capacity building plan:

	The compilation of a training package
	The implementation of a training plan by which the staff from the resource centres shall receive appropriate training on state of the art drug treatment and rehabilitation issues.

TREATNET will impact the quality of life of clients receiving treatment at resource centres and their spheres of influence. Such impact will be measured in terms of reduced drug use, improved physical and mental health status, reduced risk of transmission of blood borne infections, increased employment, improved family and social relations and reduced criminality.