Istanbul: The Vision for Alternative Development (VALD), a civil society organization, has urged for stronger international and regional collaboration, shared data systems, and unified advocacy tools to ensure consistency in global drug control policy. The organization emphasized that such a collaborative approach would aid in global messaging and provide practical investment support to low-and-middle-income countries in their battle against drug use, particularly among the youth.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Issah Ali, the Executive Director of VALD and the Head of the Secretariat of the West African Alcohol Policy Alliance (WAAPA), made this call in a statement after attending the 6th Istanbul Initiative Summit in Turkey. The summit, themed 'Global Dialogue on the Future of Drug Policy', was hosted by the Turkish Green Crescent Society and addressed critical policy issues, including the rise of drug use among the youth, the spread of synthetic drugs, cannabis legalization, and funding challenges faced by civil society organizations in prevention and advocacy.

The event brought together representatives from civil society organizations and international policy experts who discussed global trends in drug prevention, recovery, and resilience. Mr. Ali, who spoke on 'The Future of Global Drug Policy: Demand Reduction and Resilience', highlighted the shift in drug policy from punitive measures to approaches centered on health and human rights. He advocated for increased investment in prevention, treatment, and social reintegration, emphasizing the need for data and behavioral science in decision-making.

The Executive Director stressed that prevention, treatment, and recovery must operate in tandem to bolster community resilience. He also called for greater youth involvement in advocacy and policy design while promoting school and community-based interventions that empower young people.