Speakers at an international webinar have stressed the need for evidence-based drug prevention measures to protect young people and create a safe and healthy environment for them.
The webinar titled “Evidence-Based Drug Prevention” was jointly organised by the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum for Health and Wellbeing and the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) Bangladesh chapter on Wednesday evening, marking International Youth Day 2026.
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Iqbal Masud, director of the Health and Nutrition Sector at Dhaka Ahsania Mission and general secretary of the ISSUP Bangladesh chapter, said evidence-based prevention is far more effective than traditional approaches.
“The theme of this year's International Youth Day, ‘Different Contexts, Shared Aspirations’, reminds us that despite varying life realities, all youth share the dream of a healthy future. However, substance use disorder is destroying these aspirations,” he said.
Masud called on families, educational institutions, the government and society to expand prevention programmes in line with international standards.
Prof Dr MA Mohit Kamal, chairman of the ISSUP Bangladesh chapter, said young people should be actively involved in drug prevention efforts.
“To prevent drug use among youth, we must not only work for them but also work with them, because today's youth are the future leaders of the nation,” he said.
International speakers included ISSUP National Chapters Coordinator Olha Myshakivska, ISSUP Scientific Support Coordinator Rasha Abi Hana and World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD) Secretary General Cressida de Witte.
AFM Sadman Sakib, a member of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum, also spoke at the webinar.
The session, moderated by Marjana Muntaha, coordinator of the Ahsania Mission Youth Forum, was attended by youth representatives from Bangladesh and abroad.
Speakers called for stronger action against drug trafficking, modernising law enforcement efforts and greater attention to youth mental health.
The organising bodies concluded the session with a joint call for the government, civil society and development organisations to work together to implement evidence-based drug prevention policies.