As President of the World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD), I had the honor of participating in the 2025 Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs (APFAD), hosted by the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA). The forum brought together over 300 participants from across the region to advance shared strategies for addressing the global drug challenge.

I was privileged to deliver the forum’s opening keynote, titled “A Global Challenge, A Shared Responsibility: United for a Drug-Free Future.” My remarks highlighted the growing threats posed by synthetic drugs, the commercialization of high-potency cannabis, and the urgent need for prevention-centered, health-based strategies that uphold the right to live free from the harms of drugs. I emphasized WFAD’s global work in elevating prevention, recovery, and public health solutions that protect youth and communities.

In addition to the keynote, I joined a panel discussion titled “Sustainable Impact: Strategies for Building Resilient Communities,” alongside Ms. Salina Samion and Dr. Jasmin Kaur, Principal Psychologists with Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Together, we explored evidence-based approaches to building community resilience through prevention, education, and recovery support systems, emphasizing the importance of cross-sector collaboration and local leadership.

The final day of the forum featured an intensive training workshop led by Matej Košir on Evidence-Informed Approaches to Preventive Drug Efforts, in which I served as a co-trainer. The interactive session, attended by approximately 100 participants, focused on translating science into action, strengthening the policy-prevention connection, and equipping practitioners with tools to implement effective prevention programs in their respective contexts.

During my visit, I engaged in high-level discussions with several Singaporean government officials, including Mr. K. Shanmugam, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Law, and Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State for the Ministries of Home Affairs and National Development. Our conversations focused on the global impacts of drug legalization, the rise of extreme harm reduction narratives, and the influence of major international funders—particularly the Open Society Foundations—on global drug policy shifts.

I also participated in the Remember Day Vigil, held in solemn tribute to the lives lost to substance use disorders worldwide. It was a powerful reminder of the human cost of inaction and the importance of sustaining our collective commitment to prevention, treatment, recovery, and advocacy. The APFAD 2025 Forum was a meaningful opportunity to elevate the mission of WFAD, deepen international cooperation, and advance a unified call for balanced, health-driven drug policies across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond