In 1999, the EU highlighted the growing threat of drug abuse and trafficking, noting a sharp rise in cocaine, amphetamines, and synthetic drugs like ecstasy. Reports at the time showed that no Member State was spared from these challenges.

To respond, the EU called for stronger cooperation between countries, better intelligence sharing through Europol, and more attention to prevention, education, and treatment.

During the German Presidency, the EU’s Horizontal Working Party on Drugs set the stage for a new multi-year action plan, aiming for a more united and comprehensive European approach...

On 2–3 April 2014, African and European leaders met in Brussels for the Fourth EU–Africa Summit under the theme “Investing in People, Prosperity and Peace.” The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between the two continents, built on shared values of democracy, human rights, good governance and sustainable development.

Leaders acknowledged progress since the 2007 Joint Africa–EU Strategy and the 2010 Tripoli Declaration, while recognising the need to give fresh momentum to cooperation. Africa’s rapid economic growth and democratic gains were welcomed, though challenges of inequality and...

In 2010, the EU introduced a new policy cycle to strengthen the fight against organised and serious international crime. This cycle provides a structured way for Member States to work together, set shared priorities, and respond to cross-border threats in a more coordinated manner.

The Council plays a key role by deciding on the main crime priorities, ensuring that efforts are focused where they are most needed. The policy cycle is designed to make Europe’s response more strategic, effective and adaptable to emerging challenges.

In August 2024, UNODC convened policymakers and treatment managers in Johannesburg for a workshop on adapting Key Quality Standards for drug use disorder treatment. The meeting, held in partnership with South Africa’s Department of Social Development, focused on aligning national norms with the UNODC/WHO International Standards to strengthen quality assurance and improve access to ethical, evidence-based care.

The workshop marked an important step in advancing treatment systems in Southern Africa, helping stakeholders identify gaps, set priorities, and develop strategies for long-term...

In June 2023, UNODC Serbia, with support from the Ministry of Health and international partners, hosted a training in Belgrade on quality assurance for drug use disorder treatment systems. Based on the UNODC-WHO International Standards and Quality Assurance toolkit, the workshop brought together 25 professionals from across the health sector to strengthen national treatment systems, share expertise, and identify areas for improvement.

The training marked an important step towards ensuring accessible, ethical, and evidence-based care in Serbia, equipping participants with practical tools to...

At the 66th Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2023, UNODC, together with international partners, hosted a side event on strengthening quality assurance in the treatment and recovery support of people with drug use disorders. Experts from across the world shared experiences, good practices and challenges, highlighting the importance of evidence-based, patient-centred approaches in community settings.

The event underlined the need for ongoing improvement in treatment systems to ensure accessible, ethical and effective care. It also introduced a key paper reviewing the link between treatment...

In 2021, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) called on UNODC, alongside Member States and partners, to assess the quality of drug prevention, treatment, sustained recovery, and related support services worldwide. This report uses data from 2020 and 2021 to explore how well services align with the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention and the International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders. It highlights the availability of core treatment types, such as psychosocial, behavioural, and pharmacological interventions, while noting gaps in coverage and regional...

This Discussion Paper, prepared by UNODC, aligns with key international policy frameworks, including CND resolutions 59/4 and 64/3. These resolutions highlight the importance of developing and disseminating international standards for the treatment of drug use disorders and promoting evidence-based, high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive approaches to prevention, treatment, sustained recovery, and related support services. Building on these mandates, the paper provides an in-depth examination of person-centred care within substance use disorder treatment, aiming to inform policy and...

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...