The 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), held in March 2026 in Vienna, took place nearly ten years after the 2016 UNGASS on drugs, which carried the slogan “A better tomorrow for today’s youth.” This side event by Youth RISE and the Global Commission on Drug Policy (GCDP) brought this commitment under scrutiny, asking whether it has translated into meaningful action for young people on the ground.

The side event sponsored by Australia, the Czech Republic, Mexico, UNICEF, OHCHR, UNDP, UNAIDS, IFMSA, IDPC, INPUD, Harm Reduction International, LEAP, EuroNPUD, Release, Skoun, De Justicia, Elementa, EHRA, Correlation European Harm Reduction Network, Students for Sensible Drug Policies International, and the Global Campus of Human Rights brought together young professionals, peers, policy advocates, and UN representatives to examine how health systems can better serve young people who use drugs. 35 people attended in-person and 34 were online attendees, reflecting the growing interest in continuing a youth-centred dialogue at the highest levels of global drug policy.

A full report of the event is available here.

The recording of “The Next Generation of Care: Youth-Centered Innovations to Renew and Strengthen Health Systems” can be found below.