Consensus Statement from a policy dialogue on scaling up implementation of WHO’s regional flagship initiative to accelerate the public health response to substance use, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26-28 February 2025
Publication date: 2025
Consensus Statement from a policy dialogue on scaling up implementation of WHO’s regional flagship initiative to accelerate the public health response to substance use, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 26-28 February 2025, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
Prevalence of injecting drug use and HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in people who inject drugs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Publication date: 2023
Considerable disease burden is attributed to injecting drug use (IDU). This regional systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of IDU and the characteristics of people who inject drugs in the 22 countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.
Substance use atlas 2021
Publication date: 2023
The Substance use atlas 2021 reports on progress made in the implementation of the regional framework for action to strengthen the public health response to substance use. The atlas maps the resources and capacities of the countries of the Region to respond to the problems of substance use. It also highlights challenges and gaps and identifies areas where the public health response to substance use problems needs to be strengthened. The atlas provides aggregated regional information and individual country profiles with detailed information on available resources and capacities at the country level.
Drug use, drug use disorders, and treatment services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a systematic review
Publication date: 2023
Drug use is an increasing global public health concern. This article reviewed the prevalence and patterns of drug use, drug use disorders, and the extent of treatment services in 21 countries and one territory in the Eastern Mediterranean Region from 2010 to 2022. Data show that: the prevalence of drug use is higher in the Region than global estimates; the prevalence of drug use disorders were scarce and heterogeneous; and treatment facilities for drug use disorders are available in most countries, but opioid agonist treatment exists in only seven countries. There is a need to expand evidence-based and cost-effective care. .
Guidelines for the psychosocially assisted pharmacological treatment of opioid dependence
Publication date: 2021 (Arabic)
The Guidelines for the psychosocially assisted pharmacological treatment of opioid dependence review the use of medicines such as methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone and clonidine in combination with psychosocial support in the treatment of people dependent on heroin or other opioids. Based on systematic reviews of the literature and using the GRADE approach to determining evidence quality, the guidelines contain specific recommendations on the range of issues faced in organizing treatment systems, managing treatment programmes and in treating people dependent on opioids.
Factsheet: Addiction
Publication date: 2019
This is one of a series of factsheets produced by WHO to give the general public information about mental disorders and how they can be treated. It addresses addiction and how it can be treated. It contains nine sections: (1) what is addiction; (2) common signs and symptoms of addiction; (3) common causes of addiction; (4) anybody can get addicted; (5) where to seek help; (6) how can you help a friend or family member with drug use behaviour; (7) preventing and treating addiction; (8) how can you help yourself; and (9) how can you help a friend or family member with relapse.
Atlas: substance use in the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2015
Publication date: 2017
This report presents information on the magnitude of substance use disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and the available resources and services at country level for their prevention and treatment. It provides the results of a country questionnaire in these five major areas: leadership and governance, financing, service organization and delivery, workforce, and information systems.
Atlas: substance use in the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2012
Publication date: 2013
This report presents information on the magnitude of substance use disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and the available resources and services at country level for their prevention and treatment. It covers five major areas: demographic characteristics, epidemiology of substance use, policy and legislation as related to substance use disorders, health services, and prevention and harm reduction resources.
Assist: The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance involvement Screening Test (ASSIST): Manual for use in primary care (2010)
Publication date: 2010
The ASSIST package is part of the WHO ASSIST project and was developed to help primary health professionals detect and manage substance use and related problems in primary and general medical care settings. The package includes three different manuals; (1) the alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST); (2) the ASSIST-linked brief intervention for hazardous and harmful substance use and (3) self-help strategies for cutting down or stopping substance use: a guide. ASSIST was developed for WHO by an international group of researchers and clinicians as a technical tool to assist with early identification of substance use related health risks and substance use disorders in primary health care, general medical care and other settings.
Brief intervention: The ASSIST-linked brief intervention for hazardous and harmful substance use: Manual for use in primary care (2010)
Publication date: 2010
The ASSIST package is part of the WHO ASSIST project and was developed to help the primary health professionals to detect and manage substance use and related problems in primary and general medical care settings. The package includes three different manuals: (1) the alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST); (2) the ASSIST-linked brief intervention for hazardous and harmful substance use and (3) self-help strategies for cutting down or stopping substance use: a guide. This manual is part of the WHO ASSIST package and explains the theoretical basis and evidence for the effectiveness of brief interventions and assists primary health care workers in conducting a simple brief intervention for clients whose substance use is putting them at risk.
Self-help strategies for cutting down or stopping substance use: A guide (2010)
Publication date: 2010
The ASSIST package is part of the WHO ASSIST project and was developed to help the primary health professionals to detect and manage substance use and related problems in primary and general medical care settings. The package includes three different manuals: (1) the alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test (ASSIST); (2) the ASSIST-linked brief intervention for hazardous and harmful substance use and (3) self-help strategies for cutting down or stopping substance use: a guide. This guide is part of the ASSIST package and was developed to assist patients who are at risk because of their substance use to weigh up their substance use behaviour and change it using self-help strategies.
Guidelines for the psychosocially assisted pharmacological treatment of opioid dependence (2009)
Publication date: 2009
The guidelines for the psychosocially assisted pharmacological treatment of opioid dependence review the use of medicines such as methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone and clonidine in combination with psychosocial support in the treatment of people dependent on heroin or other opioids. Based on systematic reviews of the literature and using the GRADE approach to determining evidence quality, the guidelines contain specific recommendations on the range of issues faced in organizing treatment systems, managing treatment programmes and in treating people dependent on opioids.
Establishing a national substance use treatment information system: A step-by-step guide
Publication date: 2014
This guide provides step-by-step guidance on the development of a national substance use treatment information system. The goal is to generate data on the individual characteristics and patterns of substance use among people in contact with the substance use treatment system, enabling treatment estimates of problematic substance use and the monitoring of treatment programmes. It introduces a minimum data set as the basis for data collection based on a core set of indicators. The guide is for policy-makers, public health experts, mental health and substance use specialists, and all others involved in substance use management, programming and planning.
Rapid assessment of alcohol and other substance use in conflict-affected and displaced populations: A field guide (2008)
Publication date: 2008
This guide was developed for conflict-affected populations based on existing rapid assessment methods used in general populations. It takes a public health approach and prioritizes harm and risk reduction related to alcohol and other substance use, including the reduction of HIV transmission risks, to individuals, families and communities.