Building Capacity for Community-based Treatment and Continuing Care of Young Drug Users in the Greater Mekong Subregion

This discussion paper provides an overview of the project Building Capacity for Community-based Treatment and Continuing Care of Young Drug Users in the Greater Mekong Subregion, which was implemented over the period 2002 to 2008 in Yunnan Province, China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Thailand and Vietnam. The document reviews the project's activities, achievements and challenges in the context of efforts to divert young drug users from compulsory treatment to community care by means of capacity building, generating greater awareness and advocacy work. Case studies are used to better understand the needs of young people, while lessons learned and recommendations from the project highlight key issues related to developing effective models for treatment and continuing care for young people experiencing problematic drug use.