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01 June 2025
Distinct regional directors,
Colleagues and partners,
The use of substances is one of the most urgent public health challenges, but often neglected in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Threat not only individual health but the safety, safety and economic well -being of our societies.
The human and economic toll is disconcerting. The use of substances contributes to the burden of mental health, hepatitis, tuberculosis and HIV disorders. It represents up to 2 % of GDP in some countries due to health costs, crime and productivity loss.
In 2022, about 292 million people globally, 5.6 percent of the population aged between 15 and 64.
In our region, 6.7 percent of the population used drugs, higher than the global average. The burden is particularly heavy for young people, with 4.9 percent of young people in the region who have used cannabis in the last year.
Unfortunately, the coverage of the treatment remains alarming. In 2022, in the eastern Mediterranean region, only 1 out of 13 people with a substance use disorder received treatment.
This is further exacerbated by the stigma, disparity in access to essential drugs and excessive dependence on punitive measures.
To fill these gaps, we launched the regional tip initiative for the acceleration of public health actions on the use of substances, approved at the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee in 2024.
This initiative marks a strategic movement towards a public health approach – centered on prevention, assistance and dignity – through action through three key sectors:
- Promotion and prevention, to stop the beginning and create free support environments from the stigma.
- Interventions of the Health System, integration of treatment for substances use disorders in universal health care packages.
- Political and regulatory interventions, in support of countries to adopt responses based on evidence and centered on health.
In February 2025, we convened over 100 parts interested in Abu Dhabi for a high -level political dialogue.
Since then we have set up a strategic and technical consultancy group and we are launching a regional coalition of civil society organizations to support implementation and amplify the voices of people with experienced experience.
But success depends on the collaboration. The use of substances is not a challenge that any sector – or agency – can resolve alone.
This is where the regional health alliance (RHA) becomes a turning point.
As a collaborative platform of 18 United Nations agencies, RHA provides a vital mechanism to align strategies, coordinate technical support and maximize our collective impact.
In a context of narrowing resources and growing needs, doing more with less requires unified and strategic action.
Today I have three keys:
He collaborates with us to locate the initiative through national political dialogues and coordinated missions of the United Nations country, being alignment with national priorities and translate regional objectives into concrete actions.
He collaborates on support work plans for joint countries (2025-2028) and a plan of mobilization of joint resources to guarantee the financial and human resources necessary for the sustainable implementation, including the integration of the interventions of use of substances in the packs of UHC benefits.
Support the national efforts to build the ability by strengthening the health workforce and establishing solid monitoring and responsibility paintings.
Together, we can transform the way in which the use of substances is addressed in this region, from punishment to prevention, from isolation to integration and from fragmentation to coordinated and impact action.
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