ISSUP Global, in collaboration with UNODC, presents 'Youth Voices for Prevention: Creative Pathways to Address Violence, Crime, and Build Safer Communities.'
The second edition of F.O.C.U.S. – Future-Oriented Careers in Understanding Substance Use, is now live!
This special edition newsletter is created for early-career professionals and students stepping into the field of substance use.
In this edition, we’re spotlighting something you’ll feel quickly as you step into this work: the substance use field is truly multi-sectoral. It’s shaped by parents and teachers, schools and healthcare teams,
recovery
communities and people with
lived experience
, researchers and community organisations, law enforcement and policymakers, courts and governments...
La ISSUP y la OEA/CICAD siguen fortaleciendo sus esfuerzos conjuntos para establecer y coordinar una Red Latinoamericana de Jóvenes Líderes. Esta iniciativa reúne a representantes juveniles de 10 países de la región, cada uno en representación de su respectivo Capítulo Nacional de la ISSUP.
La red busca garantizar que las voces de los jóvenes sean escuchadas activamente y se integren de manera significativa en las respuestas globales al consumo de sustancias y los desafíos relacionados con las drogas. Un enfoque clave es abordar la vulnerabilidad de la juventud al consumo de drogas y la...
Janemy Obiny (Youth Chairperson, ISSUP Kenya Chapter)
Headline
The World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting 2026 was held from April 27–29 at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). Reimagining Africa’s Health Systems.
Purpose of the Event.
The World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026 convened global and regional health leaders at the United Nations Office at Nairobi to advance Africa-led priorities in global health. The summit centred on aligning health discussions with regional realities, strengthening cross-sector collaboration and promoting evidence-based solutions to both emerging and longstanding public health challenges. It...
ISSUP Mexico continues to advance its strategic agenda with a strong focus on empowering youth leaders in high-risk communities. This commitment was recently reinforced through the successful completion of the “Engaging Youth” training course, delivered in collaboration with OAS/CICAD.
A cohort of 30 young leaders from Mexico has now successfully completed the programme, marking a significant milestone in strengthening youth-led efforts. Through this initiative, participants have been equipped with the knowledge and tools to act as agents of change, working to reduce violence, substance use...
Por Equipo del Capítulo Nacional ISSUP El Salvador
En el marco de la Semana del Capítulo Nacional ISSUP El Salvador, se llevó a cabo una intervención estratégica diseñada para fortalecer los factores de protección en la población joven. Bajo el lema “Prevención basada en evidencia, comunidad en acción”, esta iniciativa se centró en dotar a estudiantes universitarios de herramientas reales para enfrentar los riesgos asociados al consumo de sustancias.
Una intervención con base científica
La prevención efectiva no es producto del azar. Esta intervención se fundamentó en modelos teóricos...
ISSUP El Salvador lanza “La Semana ISSUP” para conmemorar el segundo aniversario de su Capítulo Nacional.
ISSUP El Salvador ha lanzado oficialmente “La Semana ISSUP”, un evento organizado para conmemorar el segundo aniversario de su Capítulo Nacional, que reúne a actores clave de los sectores académico, gubernamental y comunitario comprometidos con abordar el consumo de sustancias.
El acto inaugural contó con distinguidas autoridades, entre ellas Patricio Alfaro Rugliancich, Vicerrector de la Universidad Salvadoreña Alberto Masferrer; Christian Aparicio, Director Nacional de Educación...
Ha dado inicio el curso “Involucrando a los Jóvenes en la Prevención”, organizado por la Comisión Interamericana para el Control del Abuso de Drogas (CICAD) de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), en colaboración con ISSUP México, y con sede en los Centros de Integración Juvenil (CIJ). Esta iniciativa forma parte de un esfuerzo de colaboración internacional que promueve el intercambio de experiencias, conocimientos y mejores prácticas en jóvenes líderes.
Un eje central de la agenda es el involucramiento activo de los jóvenes en prevenir el reclutamiento de jóvenes por parte del...
ISSUP Guatemala, en colaboración con Glasswing International, lanzó oficialmente el programa “Agentes de Prevención”, una iniciativa orientada a formar y fortalecer a jóvenes líderes comunitarios comprometidos con la prevención de riesgos sociales.
El programa tiene como objetivo brindar a las y los jóvenes conocimientos, habilidades y herramientas de liderazgo para enfrentar desafíos que afectan a sus comunidades, como el crimen organizado, el consumo de sustancias, la delincuencia y la vida en la calle. A lo largo de 2026, las y los participantes desarrollarán actividades educativas...
On 18 February 2026, the ISSUP Lagos State Branch carried out a school-based substance use prevention outreach at Onike Junior High School, Sabo-Yaba, as part of its ongoing commitment to youth-focused prevention and early intervention.
The interactive session was designed to educate students about the risks associated with
drug abuse
, strengthen informed decision-making, and reinforce the importance of staying focused on their academic and personal goals. Through open and engaging discussions, students were encouraged to ask questions and share their experiences, particularly around peer...
Sitařová, P. & Obereignerů, R. (2025). Towards Comprehensive Sexuality Education in the Czech Republic: A Qualitative Study of Practitioners‘ Perspectives on Key Themes and Methods. Adiktologie, 25(4), 191–204
INTRODUCTION: This study explores the perspectives of Czech practitioners on sexuality education (SE) for upper primary school students (ISCED level 2). It focuses on the topics they consider relevant, including those currently underrepresented in school curricula as well as the approaches and methods they apply in practice. The framework of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is used as a lens for interpreting their experiences and practices.
METHODS: Fourteen practitioners participated in two semi-structured focus groups (n = 4 per group, 8 in total) and six individual interviews...
Young people are shaping drug prevention from community action to global policy spaces. Join this interactive youth dialogue bringing together voices from Uganda and Japan ahead of CND 2026.
Marchand, K., Liu, G., Hastings, K.G. et al. The multidimensional social ecological needs and service utilization patterns of youth using non-medical prescription opioids: an observational study of routinely collected data in a provincial integrated youth services initiative. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 20, 51 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-025-00682-6
This study examined how non-medical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) among youth aged 12–24 is linked to their health, social needs, and use of services within an integrated youth services network in British Columbia, Canada. Data from over 6,000 youth showed that 4% reported recent NMPOU. Youth who used prescription opioids non-medically were more likely to report poor physical health, mental health challenges, polydrug use, and recent exposure to violence. Despite these greater needs, their use of services was similar to youth who did not report NMPOU. The findings suggest that integrated...
Jimena Kalawski, Jefa de la Unidad de Reducción de la Demanda de la Comisión Interamericana para el Control del Abuso de Drogas (CICAD), de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), y Barbara Correa, Coordinadora Regional de la Sociedad Internacional de Profesionales del uso de Sustancias (ISSUP, por sus siglas en inglés), brindaron palabras de bienvenida en la clausura de una capacitación para jóvenes líderes basada en el Currículo Universal de Prevención (UPC, por sus siglas en inglés).
Veintisiete jóvenes de nueve Estados miembros de Latinoamérica participaron en esta capacitación...
This multicentre randomised controlled study evaluated a 3-year intersectoral intervention designed to reduce alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use among adolescents in a tri-border region of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The intervention brought together 23 institutions from education, community, and social sectors and involved 880 adolescents, with
treatment
and control groups randomly assigned. Students in the treatment group were actively involved in co-developing prevention activities, while both groups later participated in the implemented activities.
Nivishe Foundation successfully launched “Understanding Emotions,” the first chapter in its groundbreaking Brainwaves Comic Book Series, one of Africa’s first comic books dedicated to mental health education.
The series uses relatable storytelling and vibrant illustrations to help young people understand emotions, break mental health
stigma
, and build resilience. It transforms complex psychological concepts into simple, accessible lessons that speak directly to the realities of adolescents and youth in Kenya’s informal settlements.
Since its launch in Nairobi, the comic has reached over 2...
The United Nations Youth Office launched the flagship initiative on Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing! The initiative promotes an ecosystem model for youth mental health and wellbeing, using a whole-of-society approach.
The initiative was launched at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha. The launch video is available here
This flagship initiative by the UN Youth office reframes the conversation to a broader vision grounded in care, connection and community. This effort bridges policy leadership with youth-led movements across the world centering young people as equal...