Youth RISE: Promoting harm reduction & drug policy reform

Drug education curriculum in many countries remains abstinence-based and delivered through a criminalization lens. This approach not only excludes young people but also fails to equip them with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe — whether they choose to use drugs or not. Youth RISE’s research revealed how current drug education — often focused on fear-mongering and reproducing punitive approaches — misses the mark. By the time young people received formal lessons, many had already encountered drugs, formed their own perceptions, distrusted educational institutions and, in some cases, experienced punitive policing firsthand.

The research shows that young people want a gradual, repeated, and practical education that helps them understand how drugs work, how to navigate situations where drugs are present (whether these are used or not), how to respond to peer emergencies, and how to stay safe and reduce harm. That demands culturally sensitive approaches that recognize young people’s diverse backgrounds and life experiences, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all narrative. Evidence shows that young people respond well to experiential, interactive learning methods rather than fear-based messaging.

During Youth RISE’s side event at the 68 CND session, experts emphasized that harm reduction education should be age-appropriate, while recognizing young people's evolving capacities. Schools should be educational environments equipping pupils with the needed tools to critically engage and respond to everyday life decisions and challenges. Instead of reproducing punitive drug policy approaches, schools should function as safe spaces for open discussions about drugs, without fear of punishment or judgment.