Just this week, on World Drug Day (26 June 2023), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) held the CND special event to commemorate this international day and launch the annual World Drug Report 2023. Under the theme "People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention," this year’s World Drug Day highlighted the importance of respect and empathy when engaging with people who use drugs; providing evidence-based and voluntary services; offering alternatives to punishment; prioritizing prevention; and leading with compassion.
During the special event, a youth participant of the Youth Forum 2023, Stephanie Albor, was also invited to be a panelist alongside other experts, in presenting her views on some of the focus themes of the World Drug Report 2023 and partake in a discussion session with the Chair of CND. Stephanie provided her views on the relationship between the needs of displaced people and substance use. Her presence and messages were well-received by the audience; and following her intervention during the CND special event, Stephanie has provided further insight below, into how youths could also be involved in supporting those in need, including people living in challenging circumstances.
First of all, thank you for your contribution at the CND special event! You spoke of the difficulties that people living in challenging circumstances may face and how that may contribute to risk factors in initiating drug use. What are your thoughts on the difficulties children or young people in such settings may face in going through age-appropriate developmental phases?
Today, I feel like we are at a unique point in history. Unlike previous generations, the youth of today are increasingly more cognizant of the importance of understanding our emotions and prioritizing our mental well-being. And as young people, we hold hope for universal good health and well-being, better qualities of life, and better chances of overcoming adversities that come our way and to the world. I believe that one of the ways to prevail through such challenges, is to support skills development in children and youth that will steer them through the hard times and support their development of resilience. However, this process of ‘growth’ is inseparable from socio-economic and socio-cultural factors, and younger generation in marginalized settings may encounter discrimination or invisible gaps that limit their opportunities of growth, and hinder them in reaching their potential.
But I believe young people have the potential to bridge that gap: do you remember how much easier it was to make friends in elementary school? Repeated interactions in schools and groups in the community naturally exposed us to new people our own age, allowed us to let our guard down, and confide in and befriend each other. Young people can be the promoters and enablers in creating inclusive spaces where marginalized children and youth can access safe spaces that will support their adaptation to new environments, provide continued learning opportunities, and help feel more grounded to their communities. And in doing so, youth can become active agents of change and serve as inspiration for future generations.
Do you also perhaps have some experience in supporting or engaging with young people living in challenging settings?
Speaking as a youth in my experience of being a volunteer in an NGO in Mexico and being a promoter of good mental health, I learned that substance use prevention needs an underlying element of empathy and compassion, and should always take human rights into perspective.
In the hopes of promoting health and preventing substance use amongst youths, I have conducted workshops for students on the importance of developing social skills and group integration, and strengthening life skills to promote pro-social behavior and help face the demands and stresses of daily life in an effective way. And through these experiences, I learned that young individuals, including myself, have the power to collaborate and create positive impacts. By seizing opportunities to positively influence others, the communities of youth we support today, will emerge as active gamechangers of tomorrow, fostering active and healthy societies.
Thanks for your inputs to these follow-up questions! Any last words for our readers?
As we commemorate World Drug Day, I want to reiterate that anyone can be subject to sudden emergencies and due to this, become more vulnerable to drug use; but we can make a difference. We can support the immediate and prolonged impacts of challenging circumstances and support people, especially children and youth, to survive, thrive, and achieve their potential. And everyone can pitch in, including youth as myself. We need to work together in an inter-generational approach to help save lives and help them flourish.