Drugs in Focus: Key Role of Substitution in Drug Treatment

Policy briefing about substitution treatment (primarily methadone as a substitute for opiates) for problem drug users in Europe. It lists key policy issues related to substitution treatment and provides a statistical chart of the number of drug users and the number of users on substitution treatment in each country in Europe. It describes substitution treatment, in terms of positive health and social impacts; the types of substitutes available; how treatment is delivered; and the need for treatment to delivered alongside psychosocial support services and care.