The global burden of disease attributable to alcohol and illicit drug use amounts to 5.4% of the total burden of disease. Effective interventions and strategies exist to prevent and treat substance use disorders. The Global Information System on Resources for the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders maps and monitors health system resources at the country level to respond to the health problems due to substance use. Data from 147 countries (88% of the world population), collected in 2008, show that the main location for treatment of substance use disorders is the specialist substance abuse system, followed by the mental health system, the general health system, and primary care.

The Observatory contains the following resources:
• Maps
• Atlas on substance use (ATLAS-SU) report
• Country profiles
• Indicator book
• Management of Substance Abuse web pages
• Global Information System on Alcohol and Health (GISAH)