28 February – 4 March
Despite challenges in varying time zones and virtual settings, the youth embraced key take-home messages on substance use prevention and imagined how they would like to see them reflected in their communities.
The youth were placed in multiple grouped sessions to interact with each other, view prevention materials together, and discuss risk and protective factors that can affect one's vulnerability or resiliency to substance use.
During sessions with UNODC experts, participants learned the importance of evidence-based strategies and the importance of science in supporting prevention efforts.
Young leaders learned about the science of substance use prevention, always referring back to the fundamental resource, International Standards on Drug Use Prevention.
Youth actively collaborated in group activities and created presentations to reinforce their knowledge gained and exchanged ideas and experiences with other young leaders on preventing drug use.
The Youth Handbook was iterated as a valuable resource to help young leaders prepare themselves to meaningfully engage in prevention activities in their communities.
Continuing the tradition of empowering young leaders to make their voices heard by global policymakers, youth participants jointly developed their Statement to be delivered during the 65th session of the CND.
