Addressing substance use and substance use disorders in humanitarian settings: the role of evidence-based prevention, treatment and care

This session will focus on experiences and good practices for substance use prevention and substance use disorders (SUD) treatment and care in humanitarian settings. Displaced populations may be vulnerable to SUD for a variety of reasons. These include pre- or post-displacement stress and trauma, including loss of homes and livelihoods, violence, torture and family separation. This session aims to present and discuss resources available to humanitarian actors in identifying needs and implementing elements of evidence-based prevention and treatment for SUD in different stages of humanitarian emergencies. During the session good practices, technical guidance and information on available tools for the assessment, planning, implementation and monitoring of evidence-based SUD prevention, treatment and care programmes, and services to address associated health and social consequences of substance use in humanitarian settings will be shared.