Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours

The Unit works globally to improve health and well-being of populations by articulating, promoting, supporting and monitoring evidence-informed policies, strategies and interventions to reduce the burden associated with alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours.

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Feature story

6 May 2025

Strengthening alcohol control and road safety policies

Latest

8 – 9 July 2025

The Technical Advisory Group on Alcohol and Drug Epidemiology (TAG-ADE

15 May 2025

Call for submissions

Public notice and comments on the Technical Advisory Group on Alcohol and Drug Epidemiology (TAG ADE)

Latest publications

Opioid agonist maintenance treatment as an essential health service: implementation guidance on mitigating disruption of services for treatment of opioid dependence

The document compiles WHO recommendations to advocate for uninterrupted access to opioid agonist maintenance treatment (OAMT) and support countries experiencing...

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Mandates

The global alcohol action plan 2022-2030, endorsed by WHO Member States, aims to reduce the harmful use of alcohol through effective, evidence-based strategies...

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The public health dimension of the world drug problem: how WHO works to prevent drug misuse, reduce harm and improve safe access to medicine

The world drug problem has multiple public health dimensions encompassing vulnerability to drug use disorders and dependence, treatment and care of people...

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Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol

During the Sixty-third session of the World Health Assembly, held in Geneva in May 2010, the 193 Member States of WHO reached an historical consensus on...

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Our initiatives

The Global SAFER initiative

UNODC/WHO Joint Programme

Advocacy

WHO Forum on alcohol, drugs and addictive behaviours

News

9 February 2025

Departmental update

WHO updates guidelines on opioid dependence treatment and overdose prevention

25 June 2024

News release

Over 3 million annual deaths due to alcohol and drug use, majority among men

28 March 2024

Departmental update

WHO joins 67th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs

8 August 2023

Departmental update

Landmark public health decisions by WHO on essential medicines for alcohol use disorders

Publications

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Opioid agonist maintenance treatment (OAMT) for people with opioid dependence is proven to be safe and effective in addressing a broad range of health...

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The Global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders presents a comprehensive overview of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related...

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The global alcohol action plan 2022-2030, endorsed by WHO Member States, aims to reduce the harmful use of alcohol through effective, evidence-based strategies...

Download