Our vision is a future where drug demand reduction is a priority. Where everyone has access to ethical substance use prevention, treatment and recovery support. A future where better lives are possible for millions of people.
Our mission: We are an international network that unites, connects and shares knowledge across the substance use prevention, treatment and recovery support workforce. Our mission is to make the work of our members as impactful and effective as possible. We do this by making it easier to discover and share knowledge, best practice, training and networking opportunities.
Watch our animation below to learn more about what we offer to the substance use workforce.
Promoting quality standards and professionalism
ISSUP’s contribution is informed by science and promotes high quality and ethical practice. Learn more about our Code of Ethics.
ISSUP was established and is funded by the US Dept. of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
We implement our activities in consultation with:
- Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA)
- Colombo Plan
- Cooperation Programme on Drugs Policies (COPOLAD)
- European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA)
- European Society for Prevention Research (EUSPR)
- Organisation of American States / Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (OAS/CICAD)
- Society for Prevention Research (SPR)
- The European Prevention Standards Partnership
- United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
- U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)
- World Health Organisation (WHO)
Prevention, treatment and recovery related science has moved forward substantially over recent years through the work of the above and related agencies. This is illustrated by the development of the Universal Prevention Curriculum and the Universal Treatment Curriculum provided through INL and Colombo Plan, the European Drug Prevention Quality Standards funded by the European Union and undertaken by the European Prevention Standards Partnership, and the International Standards on Drug Use Prevention produced by UNODC.
However their remains a need for better collaboration between the organisations involved. Furthermore, there is a vital need to professionalise the workforce, to promote quality standards and ethical practice and for that workforce to be represented by an international organisation. ISSUP has been established to meet these needs and challenges.
ISSUP was initiated in 2015 through INL, working in consultation with African Union, OAS/CICAD, Colombo Plan, UNODC and WHO. It was formally established in the UK as a not for profit company limited by guarantee in February 2016.