Contemporary Drug Abuse Treatment: A Review of the Evidence Base (2002)
UNODC
A companion resource to “Drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation: a practical planning and implementation guide” and to the document “Investing in drug abuse treatment: a discussion paper for policy makers,” this review presents an established evidence base for the detoxification-stabilization phase and rehabilitation-relapse prevention phase, and a number of patient-related and treatment-related variables impacting treatment outcome.

Discussion Paper: Principles of Drug Dependence Treatment (2008)
UNODC, WHO
This discussion paper recommends that governments and their partners implement evidence-based drug dependence treatment services that adhere to the following nine principles: (1) availability and accessibility; (2) screening, assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning; (3) evidence informed drug dependence treatment; (4) treatment, human rights and patient dignity; (5) targeting special subgroups and conditions; (6) addiction treatment and the criminal justice system; (7) community involvement, participation, and patient orientation; (8) clinical governance of treatment services; (9) policy development, strategic planning and coordination of services.

Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation: A Practical Planning and Implementation Guide (2003)
UNODC
The guide is designed for a multidisciplinary audience and promotes a strategic framework for treatment; linking policy to community needs assessment and treatment planning, and effective implementation to monitoring and evaluation.

Evaluation Workbook Series (2000)
WHO, UNCDP, EMCDDA
This series of eight workbooks is a tool for program development, for managers, staff and others making decisions about treatment services. It is meant to improve drug treatment evaluation activities and thus enhance treatment efficiency and cost effectiveness.

International Guidelines for the Evaluation of Treatment Services for Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders (2000)
WHO, UNCDP, EMCDDA
A companion resource to the Evaluation Workbook Series (2000), these guidelines are designed to encourage decision makers to employ appropriate evaluation methods to ensure efficacious and efficient drug treatment services and systems.

Investing in Drug Abuse Treatment: A Discussion Paper for Policy Makers (2003)
UNODC
This paper identifies effective, evidence-based drug abuse treatment as a meaningful investment to improve public health and the well-being and health of individuals in treatment, but also to reduce negative consequences of drug dependence to broader society. It asserts the responsibility for addiction treatment providers to integrate social support services for individuals in treatment interventions, including work with employers, probation/parole officers and families.

Operational Guidelines for the Management of Opioid Dependence in the South-East Asia Region (2008)
World Health Organization
This document provides physicians and drug treatment professionals with a framework for evidence-based practice in the South-East Asian regional context.

Position Paper: Substitution Maintenance Therapy in the Management of Opioid Dependence and HIV/AIDS Prevention (2004)
WHO, UNODC, UNAIDS
This joint position paper, based on a review of scientific evidence, outlines the importance of effective and safe treatment for opioid dependence to improve the health and well-being of individuals with opioid dependence and to decrease the public health and social risks, especially HIV infection. The paper concludes that substitution maintenance therapy, an effective, safe and cost-effective treatment modality, should be integrated into health systems to adequately respond to opioid dependence and HIV.

Reducing the Adverse Health and Social Consequences of Drug Abuse: A Comprehensive Approach (2008)
UNODC in consultation with INCB
UNODC and the INCB stress the need for a comprehensive, non-discriminatory approach in policy and services to drug users that includes harm reduction measures such as needle and syringe exchange, and evidence-based prevention and treatment efforts.

Report of the Special Rapporteur on Prevention of Torture and Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to the Human Rights Council (2009)
Manfred Nowak, Special Rapporteur on the prevention of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment
The Special Rapporteur’s report calls for a human rights-based approach to drug policy and contains a series of conclusions on drug policy, including the treatment of drug users in prison, forced testing, and palliative care. Notably, the report emphasizes “standards of ethical treatment,” including promoting harm reduction principles and denouncing forced treatment and lack of treatment in places of detention.