According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) there are now close to 80 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, and with mental health among this segment of the world’s population already a neglected area, the treatment of substance use disorders is increasingly overlooked in public health and humanitarian settings.

To explore a solution to this alarming crisis, UNODC —in coordination with WHO and UNHCR, along with the US State Department and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs— recently brought together 110 experts for a three-day online...

Alerta Global en Materia de Salud Pública

Los encargados del tratamiento por abuso de sustancias, los médicos clínicos, los extensionistas, las clínicas de salud pública, etc. deben conocer la información que se detalla a continuación. Un adulterante de drogas peligroso -el levamisol- aparece cada vez con mayor frecuencia en drogas ilegales como la cocaína en polvo y el crack, y en cierta medida en la heroína y el fentanilo. Puede causar efectos muy adversos para la salud, incluida la reducción en el recuento de glóbulos blancos del paciente, lo que genera una condición denominada...

On 10th July 2020 in Jakarta, the National Guideline for Drug Dependence Treatment during COVID-19 pandemic was officially launched together with His Excellency Mr. Juliari P. Batubara, Minister of Social Affairs, His Excellency Mr. Heru Winarko, Chief of National Narcotics Board, and Mr. Collie Brown, UNODC Country Manager for Indonesia. At the beginning of launch event, the guideline was introduced through a web seminar with attendance of over 260 participants from various agencies. Then, continued with the official launch ceremony, the guideline was signed by the Minister of Social Affairs...

The Basic Level UTC series consists of eight courses that cover the broad spectrum of treatment for substance use disorders. The content and methodology of the UTC training series are designed to ensure that addiction practitioners develop a balanced perspective of the principles relating to both the science and art of treatment.

Course 1: Physiology and Pharmacology for Addiction Professionals

Course 2: Treatment for Substance Use Disorders–The Continuum of Care for Addiction Professionals

Course 3: Common Co-occurring Mental and Medical Disorders- An Overview for Addiction...

The Advanced Level UTC series is a set of courses, which offers a specialised training provision that aims to provide an in-depth continuing education with the latest information and skills-based activities to further enhance the capacity of the treatment workforce and standardise the quality of care and services they provide for their clients.

The courses are as follows:

• Pharmacology and Substance Use Disorders
• Managing Medication Assisted Treatment Programs
• Enhancing Motivational Interviewing Skills
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Contingency Management
• Working with Families
• S...

Following the successful feasibility study in Indonesia on family therapy for youths with drug use disorders, Vietnam is the second country that rolls out a similar study as a way to offer more evidence-based, effective treatment alternative for drug use disorders.

The study was smoothly kicked start with a training for treatment practitioners who later provide support to youths and families with drug use disorders.  Unfortunately, when the research team started with the recruitment of patients and their families, they met with a big hurdle: the Covid 19 pandemic was seriously effecting...

The Drug Advisory Programme (DAP) of the Colombo Plan in collaboration with the National Narcotics Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BNN) has successfully conducted the first online echo training for the CHILD curriculum on Course 1: Interventions for Children with Substance Use Disorders in Indonesia. This initiative is carried out to ensure that international treatment capacity building continued uninterrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

The first course of the CHILD curriculum addresses the need for treatment professionals to alter intervention techniques to accommodate the...