The 8th Thailand National Conference on Substance Abuse covered current debates such as the voluntary, community-based treatment, the trends of drug use in the country or the decriminalisation of kratom.
Links between HIV and overdose are close and overdose prevention programmes help to strengthen HIV programmes and prevent the spread of HIV among people who inject drugs.
This Forum gathered 18 researchers and social stakeholders from across Europe, North America and Latin America, to discuss the current role of the coca leaf, its production/industrialisation, future markets and modern uses beyond Bolivia.
Much work remains to be done but, after years of frustration, it is clear that an improved working relationship between civil society and the UNODC HIV section is emerging.