According to the WHO ATLAS globally 3.5%–5.7% of 15–64 year olds reportedly use illicit drugs. Between 10% and 15% of these people are estimated to develop dependence or a pattern of harmful use. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region prevalence of drug use disorders is estimated to be 3500 per 100 000 population and that of injecting drug use is 172 per 100 000 accounting for a loss of 4 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 9 deaths per 1000 population, compared with the loss of 2 DALYs and 4 deaths per 1000 population globally.

The WHO mental health and substance abuse programme provides technical support to Member States to develop evidence-informed policies, plans and legislation; promote the most effective prevention, care and treatment services for substance use disorders, including long-term maintenance programmes which replace opioids with opioid-like (or agonist) substances, and integrate these services into primary care health systems.