Celebrating a Decade of Achievement

Ten years ago, a vision was set in motion. At our inaugural meeting in Bangkok on 6 July 2015, a consortium of international partners came together to lay the foundation for a global community dedicated to professionalising the field of substance use prevention and treatment by promoting training, capacity-building and evidence-based practices.

It was the beginning of a unified, international effort to train and connect the drug demand reduction workforce at every level. Today, we honour that moment, not simply as history, but as a launchpad for what comes next.

In a decade, we have grown from a shared vision to an active, engaged network of over 45,000 members spanning more than 200 countries.

Our commitment to evidence-based practice, ethical standards, and training has taken root across borders, disciplines, and the full range of people working to reduce the demand for substances in a variety of settings.

Ten years later, the vision to support and strengthen drug demand reduction globally has not only endured - but it has expanded.

We look back with pride at what ISSUP has achieved. Over the past decade, ISSUP has:

Established National Chapters in over 30 countries;
Fostered successful regional and international partnerships;
Supported the training of thousands of individuals across the global substance use workforce;
Raised awareness of ethical, evidence-based practice worldwide.

This anniversary is both a moment of reflection and a call to action. Our mission enters a second decade and a new phase - one defined by continued growth and a renewed commitment to workforce engagement. In the years ahead, we will work to increase our membership, welcoming new voices and perspectives into the network. Strengthening ISSUP will remain at the heart of our efforts, as we continue to build new collaborations and partnerships.

As we celebrate this 10-year milestone, we do so not only to honour what has been achieved, but to look forward with purpose. ISSUP will continue to ensure that knowledge, tools, and support continue to reach those who need them most. And we remain committed to empowering the workforce at every stage of their development, encouraging leadership, and championing excellence wherever they are.

It is a great pleasure to congratulate all who have contributed to ten successful years of ISSUP and we look forward to another decade rich with possibility.

Establishing the ISSUP Network

On 6 July 2015, a consortium of international organisations - including the Colombo Plan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Organization of American States Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS-CICAD), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the African Union - joined local partners from the Royal Thai Government in the inaugural ISSUP meeting. The event was hosted by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the Princess Mother National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment (PMNIDAT), with funding support from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the United States Department of State.

Held at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani in Bangkok, Thailand, the event welcomed over 2,200 participants from more than 60 countries.

“We are excited by the prospects of a global community of professionals commonly oriented towards the same goals and relying on each other to impact their communities, nations and our world.”

John Brandolino
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), U.S. Department of State

Click here to read the report from the formal inauguration of ISSUP in 2015.