COVID-19 and Substance Use Disorder: Study Protocol for the International Society of Addiction Medicine Practice and Policy Interest Group Global Survey.

INTRODUCTION: As one of the major health problems in the present century, the COVID-19 pandemic affected all parts of the global communities and the health of substance users are potentially at a greater risk of harm. This global study has been designed and conducted by the International Society of Addiction Medicine Practice and Policy Interest Group (ISAM-PPIG) to understand better the health related issues of people with Substance Use Disorders (SUD) as well as responses of the relevant health care systems during the pandemic. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using convenient sampling. The data gathering was carried out with two follow-up stages each two months apart through an online conducted survey prepared using Google platform. The survey started by emergence of COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020 and respondents were followed till September 2020 when most of the initial lockdowns by most countries are supposed to be reopened. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the ethics committee of University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The results will be published in relevant peer reviewing journals and communicated with different international stakeholders.

International drug control system and the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the world drug problem: an overview.

The international drug control system is one of the oldest consensus-based multilateral systems in existence. It provides the basis for the international community and the individual Member States to effectively put in place the mechanisms to address the problem of drug production trafficking and use of illicit substances at different levels. Currently, the international drug control conventions enjoy near universal adherence, with over 180 states party to the three international drug control conventions. This level of consensus is impressive given the highly contentious nature of the subject matter. Since the global drug situation remains very dynamic, the multilateral system has the ability to adjust and respond to the changing situation over the years. This report summarizes for healthcare managers those developments and their implications post UNGASS for the development of policies and in identifying the challenges and priorities for their responses to address the drug situation in order to achieve the targets set for 2019 and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.