Leading researchers, policymakers and health organisations gathered for the first ScaleUp initiative webinar on 28 January 2026. Subsequently, the event addressed critical gaps in stimulant use disorder treatment. In fact, over 600 registered participants from across the globe joined the online session. Notably, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) organised this collaborative effort.

Marica Ferri from EUDA chaired the 90-minute session. Initially, the international panel included distinguished experts from four continents. First, Giovanna Campello serves as Chief of the Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section at UNODC. Second, Dr Anja Busse leads the WHO Team for Alcohol, Drugs and Addictive Behaviours. Third, Dr Fatemeh Chalabianloo works as an associate professor at the University of Bergen in Norway. Finally, Dr Thiago Fidalgo holds an associate professorship at the Federal University of São Paulo in Brazil.

Dr Lorraine Nolan opened the webinar. Remarkably, she assumed her role as EUDA’s Executive Director on 1 January 2026. Previously, she spent 10 years as Chief Executive of Ireland’s Health Products Regulatory Authority. Indeed, her background spans medicines regulation and forensic science. “I’ve had over 30 years’ experience in this area,” she explained. Moreover, she developed Ireland’s medicinal cannabis programme and coordinated responses to psychoactive substances. “The dissemination of high-quality evidence is absolutely vital,” she stated. Ultimately, “It supports individuals with psychostimulant disorders, their families and the communities where they live.”

The Growing Global Challenge of Psychostimulant Disorder Care

Giovanna Campello from UNODC presented alarming statistics. Specifically, approximately 64 million people worldwide live with drug use disorders. Nevertheless, only a small fraction receives treatment. Particularly concerning, among women who use drugs, stimulants show the highest usage rates. These include cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy-type substances.

Interestingly, the global situation varies dramatically by region. For instance, in North America, methamphetamine and cocaine dominate the market. Meanwhile, Central and South America face significant cocaine production and trafficking challenges. Similarly, Europe experiences increasing cocaine availability. Likewise, Central Asia, the Gulf region, and East and Southeast Asia show expanding amphetamine-type stimulant markets.

“The market is expanding,” Campello explained. Furthermore, “There is increasing availability.” Subsequently, she presented data showing rising coca bush cultivation and drug seizures. In addition, she revealed a concerning trend. Importantly, “One-third of new psychoactive substances in global markets are stimulants,” she noted.

Current Treatment Barriers for Stimulant Use Disorder Treatment

Treatment approaches face significant obstacles worldwide. As Campello observed, “Treatment strategies are often not appealing for patients.” Additionally, many approaches lack a scientific evidence base. Unfortunately, in some countries, the situation worsens. Indeed, “Stimulant use is associated with human rights concerns,” she said. Consequently, these concerns include compulsory treatment or severe marginalisation.

Dr Fatemeh Chalabianloo presented Norway’s groundbreaking research. Currently, she works as an associate professor at the University of Bergen. Concurrently, she serves as Research Leader at University Hospital of Bergen. Notably, her team runs a national clinical trial on amphetamine substitution therapy. Importantly, the Norwegian government funds this research through its national programme for clinical treatment research.

The study tests dextroamphetamine versus placebo. Initially, researchers aim to recruit 226 patients with amphetamine dependence. The 12-week trial measures multiple outcomes. Primarily, these include illicit drug use through urine tests and self-reports. Furthermore, the team assesses mental health, quality of life and cost-effectiveness.

“About 11,000 people are problem users of amphetamines in Norway,” Chalabianloo revealed. Consequently, most of them lack access to psychostimulant disorder care. Moreover, she highlighted a particularly concerning issue. Specifically, amphetamine ranks among Norway’s most commonly injected drugs. In total, approximately 9,000 people inject drugs in Norway.

However, the research faces practical challenges. As she explained, “Somatic and psychiatric disorders create major exclusion criteria.” Specifically, psychosis and cardiovascular risks prevent many from participating. Therefore, “It’s the reason we cannot include as many patients as we initially proposed,” she added. Since October 2024, researchers have screened 80 patients. Subsequently, they included about 45 participants. Unfortunately, they excluded roughly half due to health criteria.

Rethinking Success in Stimulant Use Disorder Treatment

Dr Thiago Fidalgo challenged conventional approaches. Currently, he works as an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Federal University of São Paulo. Recently, his systematic review examined 65 randomised controlled trials. Notably, these trials focused on cocaine use disorder.

The findings revealed striking inconsistencies. Specifically, among 36 trials with clearly defined outcomes, 28 used abstinence as the primary measure. However, researchers measured abstinence differently across studies. For example, some counted abstinent days. In contrast, others tallied negative urine tests. Alternatively, some assessed end-of-treatment status. Meanwhile, still others measured abstinent weeks or duration of abstinence.

Overall, the review identified more than 100 different outcomes across all trials. Surprisingly, even craving assessment varied dramatically. Notably, people with lived experience identify craving as their most important concern. Despite this, 40 trials used seven different instruments to measure it. Moreover, only three studies treated craving as a primary outcome.

“The scientific community must talk together,” Fidalgo emphasised. In particular, “We need to discuss what we are going to measure and how.” Furthermore, he warned of a significant problem. Indeed, “Restricting efficacy to abstinence risks labelling clinically meaningful improvement as treatment failure.”

He provided concrete examples. For instance, consider a person who reduces their drug use significantly. Additionally, they improve family relationships. Furthermore, they return to work or education. Nevertheless, trials focused solely on abstinence might classify this person as a treatment failure. As he noted, “Quality of life and functioning are infrequently assessed.” Yet, “they align closely with patient priorities, family priorities and recovery.”

During his presentation, Fidalgo honoured Peter Blancken. Sadly, the Dutch researcher passed away in 2025. “He was with us from the very beginning,” Fidalgo said. Moreover, “He participated in developing our publications. Indeed, he generously shared his ideas and science throughout these years.”

WHO’s Strategic Approach to Psychostimulant Disorder Care

Dr Anja Busse outlined WHO’s strategic direction. Recently, she joined WHO a year ago after working with UNODC. Currently, she now works from WHO headquarters in Geneva. Notably, in 2023, WHO issued important recommendations for non-specialised settings. Primarily, these strongly endorse screening and brief interventions. Additionally, they also support psychosocial approaches, particularly contingency management.

However, WHO does not recommend prescription psychostimulants for stimulant use disorder treatment in primary health care settings. Primarily, safety concerns drive this decision. As Busse acknowledged, “The quality of evidence was graded as either very low or low across all these areas.” Therefore, substantial work remains necessary.

The ScaleUp initiative now develops a Target Product Profile (TPP). Previously, WHO successfully applied this methodology to COVID diagnostics and vaccines. Nevertheless, it has never been used for substance use disorders. As Busse asked, “If there were a medication for psychostimulants, what would it need to achieve?” Furthermore, “What features would it need to have?”

The TPP process brings diverse stakeholders together. For instance, participants include regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies. In addition, they also include people who use drugs, policymakers and researchers. Together, they define product characteristics collaboratively. Initially, the first step involves a landscape analysis. Essentially, this analysis maps existing and developing products in the field.

“We need to think about what can also be applied in low- and middle-income countries,” Busse stressed. Furthermore, researchers must consider non-specialised settings. Additionally, cost-effectiveness remains crucial.

Building International Collaboration for Treatment Solutions

The ScaleUp initiative operates across four distinct work streams. Specifically, these include advocacy, capacity building, research coordination and evidence generation. Recently, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs recognised this urgent need. Notably, Resolution 68/2 came from Thailand and Norway. Subsequently, it received broad support, including from EU countries. Ultimately, the resolution formally recognised the need to advance research on stimulant use disorder treatment.

“We have some 30-plus researchers from all over the world,” Campello reported. Importantly, these researchers undertake active scientific work. Furthermore, “We meet every two months to update each other,” she added. Consequently, “We think about how we can move this forward.”

The webinar series continues with additional sessions. In particular, future topics include evidence-based psychosocial interventions. Additionally, they also cover recovery management approaches. Marica Ferri chaired the event. Simultaneously, she worked alongside EUDA organisers Anna Ferrara, Marco Costa and Silke Vitt. Subsequently, she praised the collaborative spirit emerging from the initiative.

“The most important result you achieved is putting researchers in contact before they publish,” Ferri observed. Consequently, future systematic reviews will avoid common problems. Indeed, “This is an area where we can work on people-centred interventions and synergies,” she added.

Dr Nolan concluded by reaffirming EUDA’s commitment. Ultimately, “We remain firmly committed to providing robust evidence,” she stated. Furthermore, “We focus on informing interventions and fostering dialogue between research and practice.”

New Funding Opportunities Support Research Advancement

Meanwhile, the European Commission announced substantial funding. Specifically, it allocated €14 billion for Horizon Europe programmes in 2026-2027. Notably, several calls relate directly to drug-related research. Consequently, opportunities span multiple areas. For instance, these include health prevention, mental health and civil security programmes. In addition, they also cover researcher mobility programmes. Importantly, the Commission strongly encourages international collaboration.

The funding programmes particularly welcome participation from associated countries. Similarly, they also invite third countries to participate. Specifically, focus areas include Africa, the Mediterranean region, Latin America and the Caribbean. Additionally, enhanced collaboration with India and South-East Asian nations receives priority.

To support applicants, the Commission organises several events. First, the Cluster 1 Health Broking Event runs from 26 to 30 January 2026. Subsequently, a Health Info Day follows on 10 February 2026. Finally, the Civil Security for Society Info Day takes place on 4 March 2026.

This comprehensive approach reflects a global commitment. Indeed, countries worldwide recognise the need for better psychostimulant disorder care. Through collaborative research, innovative methodologies and sustained funding, experts work towards scalable solutions. Ultimately, these solutions must reach people who need them most.

Source: dbrecoveryresources