International Standards for Drug Use Prevention – Second Edition, 2018

Overview

The first edition was published in 2013 and summarized the evidence of drug use prevention at the global level. The value of the first edition was widely recognized and acknowledged by Member States and other national and international stakeholders. Since then, the Member States of the United Nations have made a series of wide-ranging commitments in the Sustainable Development Goals to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.

In April 2016, the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on the world drug problem heralded a new era for addressing drug use and drug use disorders through a balanced and healthcentred system approach. In the context of this renewed agenda UNODC and WHO joined their forces to update the International Standards for Drug Use Prevention based on new scientific evidence. The document was additionally enriched by existing WHO recommendations on the use of various interventions and policies to prevent substance use, but also other risky behaviours (e.g. violence) or to promote the healthy development of children and youth.