Substance Use Disorder and Illicit Opioid Use

Substance use disorder (SUD) remains a massive and complex global public health crisis with far-reaching personal, societal, and institutional impacts. Furthermore, there are regional differences in the characteristics and extent of SUD, including specific to the recent expansion of global markets for illicit opioid use. This chapter provides an overview of SUD and opioid use disorder, emphasizing the centrality of neuroscience in explaining the process of SUD. Next, it describes the current state of SUD at global, regional, and country levels, interrogating how context impacts SUD treatment processes. Finally, it outlines recommendations for evidence-based screening, assessment, and treatment in working with individuals afflicted by SUD. It concludes with a discussion of policy and practice considerations that are salient to the implementation of global and regional responses for targeted prevention and treatment efforts.