WHO is the only treaty body with a mandate to carry out medical and scientific assessment of substances. According to the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (Article 2, paragraph 5), the CND, taking into account the information received from WHO “whose assessment shall be determinative as to medical and scientific matters, and bearing in mind the economic, social, legal, administrative and other factors it may consider relevant” makes a scheduling decision with regard to the substance.
The role of the WHO, through the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD), is to evaluate the impact of psychoactive substances on public health by evaluating their dependence producing properties and potential harm to health, as well as considering their potential medical benefits and therapeutic applications. The ECDD then makes recommendations for the scheduling (or de-scheduling) of substances according to international drug conventions. These recommendations are communicated to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and are subject to a vote by the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND).
WHO and UNODC Memorandum of Understanding
The World Health Organisation and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have made official plans for strengthened collaboration on the public health issues relating to drug use around the world. The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) builds on the ongoing collaboration between the two UN entities. Areas for further joint work will include prevention of drug use and drug use disorders, improving access to medicines under international control, addressing the challenges of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and monitoring drug use and its health and social consequences.