November 2024
The UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS) in coordination with UNODC Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Section (CPCJS) has developed an e-learning course, “Treatment and Care as Alternatives to Conviction or Punishment for People with Drug Use Disorders in Contact with the Criminal Justice System”. This 60-minute online course, currently available in English, is designed for health and justice practitioners, policymakers, and all those interested to learn about options to divert people with drug use disorders in contact with the criminal justice system in appropriate cases for offenses of a minor nature to evidence-based treatment and care.
According to the World Drug Report 2024, more than 60 million people lived with a drug use disorder in 2022, yet only 1 in 11 had access to treatment globally. Drug use disorders are best treated in the public health system, requiring a continuum of care of evidence-based services, as described in the UNODC/WHO International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders. Many people with drug use disorders get in contact with the criminal justice system due to drug-related offences such as drug possession for personal use[1].Providing access to voluntary evidence-based treatment and care for people with drug use disorders has not only shown to be an effective public health strategy but also reduces criminal justice contacts and benefits overall communities in multiple ways[2]. Effective drug use disorder treatment as an alternative to conviction or punishment requires first and foremost access to treatment in the community and can be offered at all stages of the criminal justice system.
Multiple international policy agreements support the promotion and implementation of Treatment and Care as Alternatives to Conviction or Punishment for People with Drug Use Disorders in Contact with the Criminal Justice System (ATI). For example, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 58/5 invites Member States to use a wide range of alternative measures to conviction or punishment through the collaboration between health and justice authorities for appropriate drug-related offences of a minor nature. The International Drug Control Conventions require that possession, cultivation and production of controlled drugs for non-medical and non-scientific purpose be established as a criminal offence. However, for people with drug use disorders (PWDUD) in contact with the criminal justice system for personal use related offences or other offences of a minor nature, measures such as “early identification, treatment, education, after-care, rehabilitation and social reintegration” can be applied as alternatives to conviction or punishment in line with the International Drug Control Conventions. Alternatives to conviction or punishment can be further applied by international Norms and Standards to which UNODC is the custodian, such as the UN Standards Minimum Rules for Non-Custodial Measures (Tokyo Rules), the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women (Bangkok Rules) and the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules). 
Globally, there is a lack of workforce of professionals working with people with drug use disorders in contact with the criminal justice system and this online course can contribute to reduce this gap. The learner can increase knowledge on this topic, specifically by learning from experiences from different countries and the different diversion options available for this specific population.
The UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS) has also developed “Basic Counselling Skills” and “Introduction to Treatnet Family” e-Learning courses with a view to ultimately enhancing the quality and availability of evidence-based interventions offered to individuals in need of care. All interested are encouraged to complete and disseminate these UNODC online courses, which are available on the UNODC Global e-Learning page.
For more information on UNODC e-learning course on Treatment and Care as Alternatives to Conviction or Punishment for People with Drug Use Disorders in Contact with the Criminal Justice System, please contact
unodc-ptrs@un.org and/or unodc-healthandjustice@un.org
Links:
To know more about the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section, click here.
To know more about treatment and care as alternatives to conviction or punishment for people with drug use disorders in contact with the criminal justice system:
[1] UNODC World Drug Report, 2020.
[2] UNODC/WHO Treatment and care for people with drug use disorders in contact with the criminal justice system Alternatives to conviction or punishment, 2021.
