Organizing Charter

Organizing Charter for World Federation of the Associations
for the
Treatment of Opioid Dependence

Article I - The name of the organization will be:

“World Federation for the Associations for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.”

Article II- The purposes of this World Federation will include the following elements:

Promote good will and cooperation among its members throughout the world.
Promote the growth and development of medication-assisted treatment services, founded on the principles of evidence-based treatment practices and effective clinical services.
Advise its members concerning advances in treatment, research, practice and policy.
Promote the coordination and communication among medication-assisted programs throughout the world.
Assist the general public in understanding the use and value of medication-assisted treatment in treating chronic opioid addiction.
Enhance the quality of patient care and the provision of services to opioid dependent individuals and their families.

Article III – Principles of General Governance

The World Federation of the Associations for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence will consist of regional federations, agreeing to establish best-practice standards to treat opioid-addicted patients effectively.

Regional federations will work to promulgate evidence-based government/public policy around the use of proven and effective pharmacotherapies to treat chronic opioid addiction in their respective countries.

Article IV

The World Federation of the Associations for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence will encourage its members to follow principles of effective treatment, which are stated below.

It is recognized that no single treatment is appropriate for all individuals. Matching treatment settings, interventions and services to each individual’s particular problems and needs is critical to his or her ultimate success in returning to productive functioning in the family, workplace and society.
Treatment needs to be made readily available and must be evidence-based.
Effective treatment responds to the multiple needs of the individual, not just his or her drug use. To be effective, treatment must address the individual’s drug use and associated medical, psychological, social, vocational and legal problems.
Retention in treatment should be encouraged throughout each nation so that the patient remains in care as long as he/she benefits from continued treatment.
Counseling services and other behavioral therapies are critical components of effective treatment for addiction. In therapy, patients address issues of motivation, build skills to resist drug use and replace drug using activities with constructive, non-drug using activities.
Medications are an important element in the treatment of many patients, especially when combined with other behavioral therapies.
Addicted or drug abusing individuals with co-existing mental disorders should have both disorders treated in an integrated way.
Possible drug use during treatment must be monitored continuously. The objective of monitoring a patient’s drug and alcohol use during treatment, such as through urinalysis or other drug tests, will assist the patient in withstanding the urge to use drugs.
It is recognized that recovery from drug addiction is a longterm process and frequently requires multiple episode of treatment.

Article V – Canon of Ethics

Member nations of the Worldwide Federation will subscribe to the following Canon of Ethics.

Ensure that patients are treated with compassion, respect and dignity regardless of race, creed, age, sex, handicaps or sexual orientation.
Treatment programs will employ competent and responsible personnel, who will adhere to a strict code of professional efforts including, but not limited to, the prohibition of fraternization with patients, exploitation of patients and criminal behavior.
Member programs will subscribe to published and effective treatment principles, which are based on evidence-based practices.
Member programs will provide patients with accurate and complete information regarding opioid treatment and the nature of available services and availability of alternative treatment modalities prior to admission and throughout the treatment process.
Member programs will ensure that discharge from treatment is conducted in accordance with sound and medically acceptable practices. The patient will be assured of due process if the discharge is administrative in nature.
Member programs will ensure that the patients receive their care in a safe and clean environment and that the treatment experience is conducive to a therapeutic process.
The member programs will take all necessary and appropriate precautions to maintain individual patient records and information in a confidential and professional manner.
Member programs will commit to maintaining good relations with the surrounding community and pursue every reasonable action to encourage responsible patient behavior and community safety.

Article VI – General Organizing Principles

The World Federation will convene one (1) annual meeting, including one (1) representative form each member nation. This will constitute a Board of Directors.

Each member nation will have one (1) vote in determining policy.

Representatives from the two (2) most established provider organizations, EUROPAD, representing 21 nations in Europe and AATOD, representing 22 states in the United States, will provide the interim leadership as this World Federation develops. The Board of Directors, which will include the current leadership between EUROPAD and AATOD, will create new officers, representing each major region throughout the world.

Ultimately, the World Federation will work to be certain that every treatment program throughout the world will have the opportunity to communicate through internet capabilities.

The World Federation will also work to establish medication-assisted treatment programs wherever such programs are needed in nations throughout the world.

The World Federation will also take primary responsibility in organizing presentations to international bodies, such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

The governing Board of Directors will establish the appropriate organizing principles and structure business meetings as the next stage of development.

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