This Discussion Paper, prepared by UNODC, aligns with key international policy frameworks, including Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) resolutions 59/4 and 64/3. These resolutions emphasise the development and dissemination of international standards for the treatment of drug use disorders, as well as the promotion of scientific, evidence-based, affordable, and high-quality approaches to drug prevention, treatment, sustained recovery , and related support services. The paper builds on these mandates to provide an in-depth overview of current knowledge and practice in the field of substance use...

Improving the quality and coverage of treatment for drug use disorders is a global health priority, highlighted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. To support this, the Key Quality Standards for Drug Use Disorder Treatment Services were developed through broad international collaboration, drawing on the UNODC/WHO International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders and other regional frameworks. These standards reflect a consensus on what is most essential to ensure safe, effective and ethical services, and are designed for policymakers, funders, evaluators and...

Over 38 million people worldwide are living with drug use disorders, yet only a fraction have access to appropriate treatment . These disorders place a heavy burden on individuals, families and communities, and their wider social costs – from health care to justice systems – are significant. Investing in evidence-based treatment is not only vital for recovery and well-being, but also for reducing crime, protecting public health and supporting sustainable development.

To address this, UNODC and WHO developed the International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders. These Standards...

The International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders, developed by UNODC and WHO, provide guidance for countries to strengthen evidence-based, ethical and effective treatment systems. They are designed for policymakers, health professionals and service providers, offering a framework to improve the organisation, delivery and quality of care for people living with drug use disorders. The Standards outline essential components of treatment, emphasising approaches that mirror the care of other chronic health conditions, and highlight the importance of progressive quality...

Psychoactive substances are regulated under three key United Nations conventions, agreed by Member States to safeguard public health and prevent illegal drug production:

• 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs – focused on substances such as cannabis, cocaine and opium.

• 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances – introduced controls on newer psychoactive drugs, including amphetamine-type stimulants (e.g. MDMA), barbiturates, benzodiazepines and hallucinogens like LSD.

• 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances – targeted the...

The 2024 Feedback Survey gathered valuable insights from users of the UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs. Running from January to December 2024, it assessed user experiences, explored how Toolkit resources are applied, and identified areas for growth.

This year saw record participation, with 323 respondents from 63 countries—a small but meaningful share of the Toolkit’s 300,000+ unique users. Increased response rates were driven by targeted engagement, including early access to new modules, multilingual outreach, interactive demonstrations, and direct communication with the Toolkit team.

Building...

Similar to controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, precursors and chemicals often appear under a wide range of names in commerce and technical literature. This makes the work of national and international drug control authorities more complex. To support these efforts, a series of multilingual dictionaries have been developed.

The first multilingual list of controlled substances was published in 1958, focusing only on narcotic drugs. In 1983, the first edition of the Multilingual Dictionary of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances under International Control (MLD) was...