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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Latest publications

Opioid agonist maintenance treatment as an essential health service: implementation guidance on mitigating disruption of services for treatment of opioid dependence
13 October 2025

Opioid agonist maintenance treatment as an essential health service: implementation...

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

Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030
20 June 2024

Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030
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
8 April 2019

The public health dimension of the world drug problem: how WHO works to prevent drug misuse, reduce harm...

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
31 May 2010

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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Publications

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Implementing what works in alcohol policy: progress report on the SAFER initiative
26 June 2026

Implementing what works in alcohol policy: progress report on the SAFER initiative

Alcohol-related harm causes millions of deaths each year and remains a major, preventable obstacle to health, equity and sustainable development. This...

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Opioid agonist maintenance treatment as an essential health service: implementation guidance on mitigating disruption of services for treatment of opioid dependence
13 October 2025

Opioid agonist maintenance treatment as an essential health service: implementation guidance on mitigating...

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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Global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders
25 June 2024

Global status report on alcohol and health and treatment of substance use disorders

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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Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030
20 June 2024

Global alcohol action plan 2022-2030

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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Multimedia

10 May 2022

Regulating cross-border marketing of alcohol
Infographic

Alcohol consumption, health consequences and policy responses
27 October 2020

Drug overdose: a film about life
14 October 2020

Alcohol and well-being video