Quality standard

This quality standard covers assessment and treatment of drug use disorders in adults (aged 18 and over). It includes treating the misuse of opioids, cannabis, stimulants and other drugs in all settings, including inpatient and specialist residential and community-based treatment settings, and prison services. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them

Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them. We check our quality standards every August to make sure they are up to date.