Green Crescent Hosts International Congress on Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders

Green Crescent hosted the International Congress on Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders online on November 26–27, 2024. The congress convened 23 speakers from 14 countries, including representatives from leading organizations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the European Union Drug Agency (EUDA), the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM), the European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management (EURAD), and Movendi International.

The opening remarks were delivered by Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Dinç, President of the Turkish Green Crescent Society, and Assoc. Prof. Muhammed Emin Demirkol, Director General of Public Health at the Ministry of Health. The keynote speakers were Dr. Kamran Niaz, Senior Epidemiologist in the Research Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and Dr. Hamad Al Ghafri, President of the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM).

With more than 2,000 registered participants, the congress was held across eight sessions and featured experts from countries including the United Kingdom, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and Greece. Discussions highlighted emerging risks linked to substance use, shared global perspectives on effective prevention and intervention, and explored innovative policy proposals.

The congress addressed six main themes:

• Current practices and research methods in substance use disorders;
• Prevention, intervention, and advocacy initiatives;
• Emerging risks and challenges;
• Effectiveness of treatment and rehabilitation services;
• Lessons learned and best practices;
• Innovative policies, action plans, and intervention strategies.