Treatment for Psychostimulants and for Co-Morbid Psychiatric and Medical Disorders Are Discussed by Experts from the Central Asian States

On 4-8 November 2019 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 24 specialists from the drug treatment centres, narcology clinics and institutions of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan participated in the Regional Training on introduction of the protocols on treatment for psychostimulants and for co-morbid psychiatric and medical disorders organized by  UNODC global project GLOJ71 “Treating drug dependence and its health consequences: Treatnet” in collaboration with Sub-programme 3 “Prevention, treatment and rehabilitation and HIV prevention” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia.

During the first two days, the participants were discussing important issues related to the diagnostic challenges on treatment of drug use disorders (DUDs) in patients affected by mental disorders and other medical conditions related to cardiovascular diseases, internal medicine, gastrointernal diseases, endocrinology, cancer and pain. And on 6-8 November 2019, they were increasing the knowledge about the specific effects and the health and social consequences associated with use of different psychostimulants.

Strengthening prevention and treatment for people with DUDs is an essential demand reduction strategy of significant public health importance, which is a cornerstone of the 2016 United Nations General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS) outcome document, and has been specifically set as Target 3.5 of Goal 3” Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”, under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.