As part of UNODC's efforts in supporting Member States through technical assistance on drug dependence treatment and care, a number of instruments have been developed by UNODC and its partners. They represent a toolbox of evidence-based and contemporary approaches for the development and improvement of drug dependence treatment and care provision in countries worldwide:
This paper was developed in 2009, and outlines nine key principles for the development of services for treatment of drug use disorders. It aims at encouraging Governments and other partners to take concerted action for the implementation of evidence-based drug dependence treatment services, which respond to the needs of their populations.
Based on the UNODC/WHO Principles of Drug Dependence Treatment and Care (2009) and evidence and experience gathered worldwide, UNODC in a collaborative effort with WHO, developed the International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders.
The aim is to provide an international reference point for evidence-based drug dependence treatment and to be of practical usability to improve services for individuals affected by drug use disorders. The Standards promote treatment strategies that are based on the best available scientific evidence, that are humane, and respect the human rights and dignity of people affected by drug use disorders and improve the overall quality of drug dependence treatment and care services within a range of settings.
The Treatnet Quality Standards (2012) are based on the nine priority areas, which derive from the UNODC-WHO Principles of Drug Dependence Treatment and Care (2009) and aim at providing specific guidance and support to Member States in their efforts to improve the quality of their drug treatment systems. They reflect a comprehensive package of practical treatment and care interventions, which can be of beneficial guidance at the policy-planning and service-delivery level. These Quality Standards have been developed with a specific view to countries and regions, that at the point of inception, were part of the Treatnet project.
The Treatnet Training Package (2007), which was updated in 2017, was developed for UNODC by an international consortium of clinical experts, researchers, and trainers from international Capacity Building Consortium, led by the University of California Los Angeles Integrated Substance Abuse Program (UCLA/ISAP). It is a central component of the effort by the UNODC Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation unit to increase the level of knowledge and skills on substance use disorders globally. As of 2015, more than 10,000 practitioners around the world have been trained with the support of the Treatnet Training Package.
This training tool, targeting policy makers, aims at enhancing the knowledge, understanding, scope and potential of the drug control system and at improving the health and quality of life of people and communities affected by drug use disorders. The curriculum will be adapted and translated to fit the needs and specifications of the various countries and regions.
Making the best use of complementary resources and mandates, UNODC together with WHO, have developed a number of additional tools over the years, which include the guidelines on Community management of opioid overdose (2014) and the paper From coercion to cohesion: Treating drug dependence through health care, not punishment (2009). Further information on all relevant tools published by the two organizations can be found on the respective publication sections of UNODC and WHO.
