Since the beginning of June 2020, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) together with the Indonesian Association of Addiction Counsellors (Ikatan Konselor Adiksi Indonesia - IKAI) has been remotely discussing the development of remote training on Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC). This initiative is based on the high demand from practitioners to continue with capacity building initiatives to receive an official national certification for addiction counsellors, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since March 2020, all conventional/face to face trainings have been suspended due...

In 2018, Mombasa planned to set up a methadone programme for heroin injecting drug users living in prisons. As a follow up, UNODC worked together with the County of Mombasa and the Kenya Prison Service in 2019, to support and expand Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) service provision to the prison population. 

Understanding that people in prison settings who use MAT services in the public-dedicated clinic could be unnecessarily put at risk of infection, and in the context of the COVID-19 mitigation and prevention measures implemented country-wise, UNODC collaborated with the Kenya Prison...

In today’s conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic and necessary quarantine measures taken by the Government of Kazakhstan psychosocial support and assistance, as well as self-education of stress management, supportive communication with each other and expert advice often become a necessity.  In this regard the Republican Scientific-practical Centre on Mental Health – a main partner of the UNODC global project GLOJ71 – “Treating drug dependence and its health consequences: Treatnet II” – initiated the establishment of the website “Psychological support and assistance during COVID-19” (https:/...

THE TREATMENT ORGANISATION IS THE HEALING CONTEXT

Seminal and key research on how treatment organisations create an environment affecting whether staff and alcohol-dependent patients realise their potential. Starts with the US resource which has done most to promote evidence-based improvements in treatment at the level of whole organisations. Highlights “Exceptionally seminal” British studies from the early 1970s, whose findings on generating commitment to working with drinkers have repeatedly been confirmed. Then addresses three key issues:
- What do we know about the ‘engaging organisation’...

The goal of treatment for opioid addiction or opioid use disorder (OUD) is remission of the disorder leading to lasting recovery.

Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. 

This Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) reviews the use of the three Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications used to treat OUD—methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine—and the other strategies and services needed to support recovery for people with OUD.

AT THE CRUX: THE ENCOUNTER BETWEEN CLINICIAN AND CLIENT

Influences explored across the Matrix come to a head in the encounter between clinician and client. Take a step back and (in the words of one of this cell’s reviews) you will see that therapies may be the “trees”, but the “forest” is the client-therapist relationship.

Commentary on selected key research highlights the 1970s study which predated variation-quashing standardisation of treatments and therapists, then under three headings develops evidence-informed understanding of the client-clinician relationship, in which ‘wrong’ can...

UNODC’s Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section (PTRS) presented on the Global Experience by UNODC, during the International Society of Addiction medicine (ISAM) Practice and Policy Interest Group Webinar Series on  COVID-19 and SUD: A Global Perspective on Challenges and Solutions​ at the 2nd Webinar held on Wednesday, Apr 15, 2020, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM (ET), 1:00 - 3:00 PM (BST)​. 

UNODC thanked ISAM and highlighted the importance of their exchange platform, presented the increasing challenges faced by drug dependence treatment and care services during the COVID19 pandemic,  shared...

As part of efforts to professionalize the treatment and care of drug use disorders and the dissemination of effective evidence-based interventions, 18 out of 23 treatment professionals successfully passed the accreditation examination (78% passing rate) of the Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC) ICAP 1 and were presented with a certificate at the National Police Academy in Abidjan, on 12th March 2020. The official certificate ceremony was supported by the UNODC Mentor of Côte d ‘Ivoire. The opening of the second cycle of UTC trainings to cover modules UTC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 was also...