UNODC held a workshop on " The Nature, Prevention, and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders", under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Ghada Waly, Minister of Social Solidarity, and in collaboration with the National Fund for Control of Addiction.  The three-day event was dedicated to drug policy-makers and attended by 11 Ministries who effectively discussed the current National Plan of Action against Drug Abuse and finding ways to harmonize it with the international standards on the prevention and treatment of drug abuse.

The Workshop was opened by Minister Waly and UNODC Deputy Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa, Mr. Julien Garsany. Emphasizing that there was still a lot to be done to effectively combat drug trafficking and abuse, Mr. Garsany stated that " We must follow a balanced approach in order to successfully address supply and demand", adding that " If drugs are not prioritized, there will be heavy consequences on the security, economy and public health of the countries in this region."

This workshop is part of a global UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section's initiative to Member States that provides policymakers with the necessary tools for the development of informed and science-based policies and in building a health and human rights-oriented response to reduce the burden caused by problematic drug use and its associated health and social consequences.