Major International Challenges in Addiction Treatment: The Experience of TreatNet and Beyond

Abstract

One of the three pillars of the UNODC strategy for the prevention and treatment of drug use disorders is the delivery of technical assistance, especially through training. A major initiative in this effort is the Treatnet program . The UNODC Treatnet I global project started in 2005 and was designed to improve the technical capacity of professionals for the delivery of evidence-based drug treatment and rehabilitation, along with drug-related HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Treatnet I established a network of 20 resource centers, a comprehensive training curriculum, and a cadre of trainers prepared as expert trainers in the treatment of substance use disorders. From 2009 to 2012, Treatnet II provided advocacy, capacity building, and service improvement in 20 countries in four regions. Using a “training cascade” strategy, Treatnet II provided training to over 11,000 service providers throughout the four regions and the project evaluation indicated a very high rate of satisfaction by the program participants. The current program in this series is the UNODC-WHO Programme on Drug Dependence Treatment and Care. This program has a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries, with the goals of promoting and supporting evidence-based and ethical treatment policies, strategies, and interventions to reduce the burden caused by drug use and dependence. In order to ensure the sustainability of interventions in prevention, treatment, and health/social protection, particularly in low-income countries that need long-lasting and stable support, the continuous provision of significant resources is essential. To provide sustaining support for this effort, the UNODC has called for the creation of a fund to support member states in a systematic and reliable manner.