A comprehensive approach to addiction medicine as an appropriate response to the HIV epidemic among drug users

The services for drug-dependence treatment and care, particularly in low-income countries, should not be fragmented and uncoordinated. A basic package of interventions should be provided in the same place and managed by the same team, with a one-stop-shop approach. The services for substance use disorders should be appealing, accessible, voluntary-based, and science-based. They should also, like efforts to fight other diseases, be included in the community and the public health systems; that is, those who are affected by drug use and those who serve them should not face discrimination. The first-line assistance and the second-line essential elements of the comprehensive package are described in this article. The work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote science-based and voluntary-based ethical treatment in Asia is also illustrated.