UNODC Training for Albanian Policymakers on the Nature, Prevention, Treatment and Care of Drug Use Disorders

UNODC organized a training for 19 Albanian policymakers on the Nature, Prevention, and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders from 12-14 April 2022 in Tirana, Albania. Participants from the Ministries of Health and Social Protection, Education, Justice and Interior took active participation during the training which was organized with the generous support from the U.S. State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

This UNODC training was inaugurated by Deputy Minister from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Ms Mira Rakacolli, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Medicine of Tirana, Prof. Dr. Xheladin Dracini and Ms Giovanna Campello, Chief, UNODC Prevention, Treatment & Rehabilitation Section.

With the involvement and active participation of public governmental institutions, universities, prevention and health professionals, this UNODC policymakers training promoted 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.

The UNODC Policymakers Training Package on the Nature, Prevention, and Treatment of Drug Use Disorders was developed in 2016, as part of UNODC's work in supporting Member States in their efforts to create humane, effective and evidence-based drug use prevention and drug dependence treatment and care services. This tool aims at supporting Member States in developing appropriate policies, strategies, programmes and interventions targeted at preventing drug use and increasing the availability of and access to comprehensive systems of care for people affected by drug use and drug use disorders.