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The rising prevalence of substance use in Thailand—particularly methamphetamine and cannabis—has led to a significant increase in psychiatric comorbidities, including mood disorders, anxiety, psychosis, and cognitive impairment. In response, Thailand has implemented an integrated, community-based recovery approach that connects mental health and addiction services at the grassroots level.

This presentation will be featured at Indonesia 2025, on the 17.09.2025.

The International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) is committed to building a strong, connected, and skilled global prevention, treatment, and recovery workforce. This presentation, Global Opportunities for Workforce Building and Support, will highlight the ways ISSUP advances professional development and collaboration through its dynamic online platform, active network of National Chapters, and a calendar of impactful international and regional events. 

Addiction and social issues remain a persistent global challenge, demanding innovative, integrated, and sustainable approaches for effective intervention related to prevention, treatment, recovery and after care, rehabilitation and social reintegration. The growing prevalence of substance use, abuse and use disorders (SUD), particularly in disadvantaged and marginalized groups, underscores the need for comprehensive and sustainable intervention strategies to mitigate their impact at the grassroots level.

The Universal Treatment Curriculum training series’ overall goal is to reduce the significant health, social, and economic problems associated with Substance Use Disorders by building international treatment capacity through training, professionalizing, and expanding the global treatment workforce. To date, the Philippines is among the top countries who have sought UTC trainings abroad and obtained international certification.

Disparities remain prevalent for individuals with OUD in perinatal care settings in the United States, and the ability to access and express full health potential is limited for individuals who use drugs when they are not provided with standard and lifesaving care throughout their pregnancy.

The rise of stimulant use is a global concern as highlighted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). This is especially true for Southeast Asian nations where there has been steady increase in stimulant seizures yearly. Although interventions for stimulant use are present, access to them remains an issue.

The emergence of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), including synthetic psilocybin, has raised concern among health experts due to the numerous health and socioeconomic consequences. The current trend is shifting to the hazardous use of synthetic psilocybin in vaping, and little is known about the prevalence of use, specifically among ATS users.

Inadequate substance use disorder (SUD) treatment resources for incarcerated women and men with substance use problems leads to a pressing need for services when they are released. Those leaving incarceration were almost 11 times more likely to die of an opioid overdose in the first year following release than the general population.

Co- occurring mental disorders is a major contributor to the burden associated with substance use disorders. Presence of a co- occurring mental disorders among persons with substance use disorders poses challenges to the addiction professionals.

Access to evidence-based practices (EBP) in substance use prevention and treatment programs remains a challenge despite systematic efforts toward dissemination. The delay in the integration of EBP results in costly and substandard quality of care. A key to promoting its uptake is to understand the determinants that influence the implementation of addiction programs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of The Family Empowerment Program- an online delivery of the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) intervention improving the psychological wellbeing and coping resources of Concerned Significant Others (CSOs) of people with substance problems and living in rural and remote Australia.

The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration and leading obstetrical and addiction medicine groups recommend prenatal care, medications to treat OUD, behavioral health therapy, and a cross-sector collaborative approach to address social determinant of health as best-practice treatment for pregnant individuals with OUD.

Nearly 90 percent of people who use substance/drugs do not experience as substance used disorders, thus not requiring inpatient treatment. Informal services (self-care and community treatment) are the most needed and also the cheapest to set up and provide. However, many countries often establish the most expensive and intensive types of services, which focus on institutions (Community-Based Drug Services for People Who Use Drugs in Southeast Asia, 2018).

Methamphetamine dependence is a national problem with variable therapeutic success rates. Innovative approaches such as neuromodulation are required to enhance rehabilitation effectiveness. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that can modulate the neural circuits involved in addiction.

The global gap in the treatment of drug use disorders continues to be widened, with only one in twelve people having access. Despite clear evidence that effective treatment for drug use disorders is both life-saving and cost-effective, the availability and quality remain limited worldwide.

The issue of psychoactive substance misuse remains a serious public health challenge globally and nationally. In Indonesia, 1.73% of the population—or approximately 3,337,000 individuals aged 15 to 64—reported substance use within the past year (Indonesia Drug Report 2024). Of those, only 5,878 accessed rehabilitation services facilitated by the National Narcotics Agency, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and affiliated community organizations.

The problem of people with substance use disorders has become a global issue that requires immediate, multidimensional action.. Indonesia also experienced a similar situation, with the prevalence of drug abuse in 2023 reaching 1.73%. A comprehensive rehabilitation strategy aims to restore people with substance use disorders and improve their recovery and quality of life.

Indonesia is currently in a demographic bonus period, where the majority of the population is of productive age. This window expected to peak by 2030 oKers a historic opportunity for national advancement. However, realizing this potential depends heavily on the capacity of the younger generation to stay healthy, productive, and free from the threat of drug abuse.

Adolescents and young adults constitute a large proportion of the population in sub-Saharan Africa but face high levels of disability and mortality. This is influenced by unhealthy substance use, largely with friends, in a predominantly gender normative environment where poverty is widespread.