UNODC Training on the Nature, Prevention and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders for Policymakers from Central Asia

Twenty-four (24) high-level decision makers from the Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are participating in a three-day workshop on creating humane, effective and evidence-based drug use prevention and drug dependence treatment and care services, being held from 30 October to 01 November 2019 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Nilolay Negay, Director of the Republican Scientific and Practical Centre for Mental Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and was organized together with the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia and the UNODC Office in South East Europe and the generous support from the U.S. State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

With the involvement and active participation of public governmental institutions, universities, treatment centres, civil society organizations and prevention and health professionals, this UNODC policymakers training promotes a systematic, intersectoral and multidisciplinary solution in building a health-and human-rights-oriented response to the problem of drugs and to reduce the burden caused by associated health and social consequences. Moreover, this initiative is all the more crucial in the follow up on the United Nations Special Session on World Drug Problem 2016 (UNGASS) and to progress Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 5, 8, 10, 16.