The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first invitation to manufacturers of medicinal products for the treatment of substance use disorders to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for evaluation under the WHO Prequalification Programme.

Substance use disorders remain a major global public health concern. Around 316 million people worldwide use psychoactive drugs each year, with approximately 61 million engaging in non-medical opioid use. Opioids account for a large share of drug-related harm, including fatal overdoses, while access to effective treatment remains limited.

To help address this gap, WHO is inviting submissions for selected essential medicines, including methadone and buprenorphine (sublingual) for opioid dependence treatment, and naloxone for emergency management of opioid overdose.

The initiative aims to expand access to quality-assured medicines by enabling their assessment against WHO standards of safety, efficacy and quality. It also aligns with the ongoing update of WHO guidelines on opioid dependence treatment and overdose prevention, expected to be finalised in late 2026 or early 2027.