This pathway covers psychosocial interventions and opioid detoxification for drug misuse.

The pathway makes recommendations for the use of psychosocial interventions in the treatment of people who misuse opioids, stimulants and cannabis in the healthcare and criminal justice systems. It also covers treatment of people who are undergoing detoxification for opioid dependence arising from the misuse of illicit drugs. Opioid detoxification refers to the process by which the effects of opioid drugs are eliminated from dependent opioid users in a safe and effective manner, such that withdrawal symptoms are minimised.

This pathway should be used in conjunction with 'Drug misuse and dependence – UK guidelines on clinical management: update 2007', also known as the 'Orange Book', which provides advice to healthcare professionals on the delivery and implementation of a broad range of interventions for drug misuse, including those interventions covered in the present guideline.