Introduction of new methods and tools for drug use disorders diagnostics and treatment discussed in Kazakhstan
On April 15, 2022, the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia in collaboration with the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health held a “National Round Table Discussion on the application of new methods and tools of drug use disorders’ diagnostics and treatment.
The event conducted in a hybrid(offline, online ZOOM) mode was attended by senior specialists from the Ministries of Health and Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the WHO Country Office, the UNODC Program Office in Kazakhstan, heads and representatives of mental health service organizations from the cities of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Shymkent and regional centres, as well as specialized departments of the Kazakh Medical University and Semey Medical University.
The issues of pilot implementation of international tools and standards for the treatment of drug use disorders (A quality assurance tool based on the International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders (UNODC/WHO 2020) and WHO/UNODC Substance use disorder treatment facility survey), overdose prevention, and the needs and accessibility of HIV prevention and treatment services for people who use psychoactive substances were discussed.
As a result of the meeting, it was agreed that there is a need to provide people with mental and behavioural disorders caused by the use of psychoactive substances, with affordable and high-quality medical care. It was decided to continue the implementation of international standards for diagnosis and treatment, and effective preventive measures of the drug use disorder.
The round table meeting was conducted within the UNODC’s global project GLOJ71 “Treating drug dependence and its health consequences: Treatnet II” funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), in collaboration with Sub-programme 3 “Addressing drug use, increasing treatment of drug use disorders and preventing HIV/AIDS” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025.