ISSUP Côte d’Ivoire, hosted by the Interministerial Committee on Drugs (ICD), participated in the First Regional Consultation Meeting on Synthetic Drugs in West Africa, held at the Vienna International Centre from 27–28 November 2025.
The ICD, a government agency under the supervision of the Ministry in charge of Security, serves as the national coordinator for drug use reduction and is the institutional host of ISSUP Côte d’Ivoire.
This milestone consultation brought together 20 participants from six countries: Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo for an in-depth dialogue on the growing synthetic drug challenge in the region.
Across the two-day meeting, experts and practitioners explored priority themes aligned with the UNODC Synthetic Drug Strategy, including:
- Strengthening international and regional cooperation to reinforce multilateral response
- Enhancing early warning systems for emerging synthetic drug threats and precursor chemicals
- Promoting science-informed health responses for prevention, treatment, and harm reduction
- Building counternarcotic capacities, including forensic science and law enforcement interventions
Participants also engaged in technical presentations, interactive discussions, and a guided visit to the UNODC Laboratory and Scientific Services, which showcased practical tools such as the UN Toolkit on Synthetic Drugs and modern crime-scene investigation techniques.
This consultation marks a significant step forward in advancing regional collaboration, capacity building, and evidence-based responses to synthetic drug threats in West Africa.
Prof. KOUMA Yao Kouakou Ronsard Odonkor and Dr. KOFFI Brou Jean Claude Bouabré represented Côte d’Ivoire at the meeting on behalf of the ICD.
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