who medicines strategy - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

WHO MEDICINES STRATEGY 2004-2007 | 92EO 5.4Achieving balance between abuseprevention and appropriate accessto psychoactive substances throughenhancing the implementation ofrelevant guidelines to promoterational use of controlled medicinesRationaleWHO is mandated by the 1961 UN SingleConvention on Narcotic Drugs and the 1971UN Convention on Psychotropic Substancesto undertake medical and scientific reviewof psychoactive substances for internationalcontrol with a view to preventing abuse of thesesubstances. International drug control is a jointundertaking involving WHO, the United NationsCommission on Narcotic Drugs, InternationalNarcotic Control Board, and Member States. Inparallel with fighting the illicit use of narcotic andpsychotropic drugs, the goals of drug conventionsalso include ensuring the availability of andaccess to psychoactive substances for medicaluse. To achieve these two objectives, WHOpromotes the balanced drug control policy amongits Member States.ProgressSince 1949, through its Expert Committee onDrug Dependence, WHO has reviewed morethan 410 substances. Between 1948 (whenWHO was established) and 2003, the numberof narcotic drugs under international controlincreased from 18 to 118, and the number ofpsychotropic substances from 32 to 116. In orderto facilitate the review process, in 2000 WHOamended the Guidelines for the WHO Review ofDependence-Producing Psychoactive Substancesfor International Control. 46 The anticipatedadoption of these guidelines in 2004 will furtherclarify the review principle for psychotropicsubstances.Figure 22:Formula for new HIV/AIDS medicines: didanosineHNHOONHONNHdidanosineIn 2000, WHO issued a document on AchievingBalance in National Opioids Control Policy:Guidelines for Assessment 47 for use by MemberStates. WHO also assisted the United NationsInternational Drug Control Programme (UNDCP)in drafting guidelines for national regulationsconcerning travellers under treatment withinternationally controlled drugs. The guidelines,adopted by the 45 th session of the Commission onNarcotic Drugs in 2002, are intended to facilitateand enhance the security of patients who wish tocontinue their treatment while travelling. In 2002,WHO organized a workshop with the CentralEuropean countries in Hungary on improvingaccess to opioids for pain and palliative care inthe countries of Central and Eastern Europe.