International Youth Day 2026: Launch of the Global Youth Survey

ISSUP Global Youth Network, in collaboration with Drug Free America Foundation, World Federation Against Drugs and Fourth Wave Foundation, presents a webinar to celebrate International Youth Day on 12 August. Join us as we mark International Youth Day with the launch of the Global Youth Survey, an initiative designed to better understand the needs, strengths, challenges, and aspirations of young people and early career professionals working in substance use and related fields.

Date: Wednesday, 12th August 2026

Time: 3 PM London | 10 AM ET | 5 PM EAT

Language: English with interpretations in Spanish & French

Register for the Webinar

Young people represent both the future and the present of the substance use prevention, treatment, recovery, and related professions. Ensuring their voices are heard is essential for building a sustainable, skilled, and inclusive global workforce.

Held in recognition of International Youth Day 2026 and this year's theme, Different Contexts, Common Aspirations, the webinar acknowledges that while young people's lives are shaped by diverse national and local realities, their aspirations are remarkably similar. Across countries and communities, young people seek meaningful participation, quality education, decent work, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to contribute to healthier and more sustainable societies. The theme also highlights the unique challenges faced by young people living in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), while recognising their resilience, leadership, and innovation in driving positive change.

To celebrate International Youth Day, the Global Youth Survey will be launched, a worldwide initiative developed through and by youth, for a youth approach. The survey aims to better understand the experiences, needs, strengths, opportunities, and aspirations of young people and early career professionals working in substance use and related fields. It will also identify the knowledge, skills, and contributions young professionals can bring to strengthening the global workforce and advancing evidence-informed practice.

The webinar will also introduce the Global Youth Declaration on Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery, developed by young professionals in 2025, and demonstrate how the Global Youth Survey builds upon its recommendations to create an evidence base for future youth engagement and workforce development initiatives.

Intended audience:

• Young professionals working in substance use and related fields
• Early career researchers
• University students
• ISSUP National Chapters
• Youth organisations
• Policy makers
• International organisations
• Civil society organisations
• Researchers and academics
• Professionals interested in youth participation and workforce development

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the webinar participants will be able to:

1. Understand the purpose and objectives of the Global Youth Survey.

2. Describe how the survey supports evidence-informed youth workforce development.

3. Recognise the importance of meaningful youth engagement in shaping policies, programmes, and professional development.

4. Understand the key priorities identified in the 2025 Global Youth Declaration on Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery.

5. Identify opportunities to contribute to the survey and future youth-led initiatives.

Presenter:

Dr. Fuhaira Sana Rathore

Dr. Fuhaira Sana Rathore recently graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Health Sciences, Pakistan. She is currently serving as a House Officer at Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan and Youth Coordinator, Pakistan Youth Organization.

Dr. Fuhaira represents Pakistan at the Barcelona Forum on Drugs as a Member of the Advisory Committee. She is also an active member of the Youth Core Group for the Youth Declaration, where she has played a key role in developing and advancing youth-led initiatives on drug policy.

She made a significant contribution to the preparation of the Youth Declaration and presented it during a side event at the 68th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna as a Youth Delegate, alongside Ms. Cressida.

Passionate about mental health, Dr. Fuhaira aspires to specialize in Psychiatry and is committed to promoting evidence-based approaches to mental health and addiction care while amplifying youth voices in global health and drug policy.

Deogratius Ramale 

Deogratius J. Ramale is a psychologist from Tanzania with over six years of experience in substance use prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and currently works as a Psychologist at a government agency, supporting evidence-based responses to substance use and mental health challenges.
He is a certified trainer in several Universal Treatment Curriculum (UTC) and Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC) courses and serves as Head of Development and Training within the ISSUP Tanzania Chapter, contributing to workforce development and professional capacity-building initiatives.
Deogratius has a strong interest in supporting young people and advancing the development of the young substance use professional workforce across Africa. As the Youth Representative for the African Region on the ISSUP National Chapters Advisory Committee, he works to ensure youth voices are meaningfully represented, promotes youth-tailored programmes, and supports active youth participation in shaping ISSUP’s strategies and initiatives across the continent.

Dayana Vincent

Director, Fourth Wave Foundation. Special Advisor, World Federation Against Drugs.
Dayana Vincent is referred to as a social scientist for her contributions to the development sector, working on various child rights, safety and protection issues. Over the past two decades, she has represented her work at international organisations like UNESCO, UNODC, etc. Since 2018, Dayana has been an invited speaker at the United Nations Commission on Narcotics and Drugs held in Vienna. Dayana is the Special Advisor to the World Federation Against Drugs and the Board Member of Movendi International; she is an avid researcher who has co-authored several articles in journals and presented papers at international forums.

Chantel Lincoln

Chantel Lincoln is the Deputy Director of Drug Free America Foundation, Inc., where she analyzes research to develop educational resources, educates on the harms of substance use and emerging trends, and designs prevention campaigns. She leads the Florida Neonatal Marijuana Exposure Task Force, working to prevent marijuana use among women, and manages the Global Task Force. Additionally, she mentors youth, oversees the Young Professionals Advisory Board, collaborates with national and international stakeholders to strengthen prevention efforts, provides written insights on global substance use issues, creates social media content, and coordinates events and trainings.

She earned both her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Global Communicable Diseases and Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida.

Prior to joining Drug Free America Foundation, Mrs. Lincoln worked in the property management field for 10 years then completed an internship with the Florida Department of Health.

Working in the prevention arena is Ms. Lincoln’s life’s work and passion, driven by her personal experience of witnessing the tragedy associated with substance use and addiction.

Opening & Closing Remarks:

Dr. Mulka Nisic

Dr Mulka Nisic holds a PhD in Business, Law and Social Sciences specialising in Criminology and Social Justice, and an MSc in Desistance from Crime. Her work focuses on the intersection of substance use and drug related offending, with particular attention to the social and structural factors shaping vulnerability to substance use, crime involvement, as well as pathways toward resilience, recovery, and desistance. 

She currently serves as Faith and Youth Project Coordinator at the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), where she leads global activities under the Faith and Youth Workplan aimed at strengthening the workforce in delivering community and faith-based responses to substance use as well as supporting youth engagement, professional capacity building of early career professionals, and cross-regional and global knowledge exchange. 

Cressida de Witte

Cressida de Witte is the Secretary General at the World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD), one of the largest global networks of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals focused on drug policy. Cressida oversees international development projects in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. She leads the WFAD youth initiative, including the launch of the Youth Declaration on Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery 2025, and coordinates various working groups, including the Child Protection Working Group and the Global Gender Committee. Furthermore, she [co-]authors preliminary studies, reports, and position papers, contributing to the organisation’s research and policy efforts. Finally, her work includes organising international conferences, webinars, and capacity-building workshops.

Moderator:

Ariel Cohn, MPH

Ariel Cohn has worked in Public Health for 5 years, with a focus on substance use prevention and suicide prevention in youth across Kansas. She is passionate about helping communities create safe environments for people to thrive. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health from the University of Kansas and her Master’s degree in Public Health at Boston University with a focus on health equity.

References:

• United Nations. (n.d.). International Youth Day. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/what-we-do/international-youth-day.html

• United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). (2026). International Youth Day 2026: Different Contexts, Common Aspirations. Retrieved from https://desapublications.un.org/un-desa-voice/more-from-undesa/july-2026/what-unites-young-people-across-borders

• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2018). International Standards on Drug Use Prevention (2nd ed.). Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/prevention/prevention-standards.html

• World Health Organization (WHO). (2023). Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Engagement. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/initiatives/adolescent-and-youth-engagement

• United Nations. (n.d.). Youth and the Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/youth

• WFAD (2025). Global Youth Declaration on Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery. Retrieved from: https://wfad.se/youth-declaration/

Webinars and online events delivered and hosted by the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) are provided for informational purposes only. They are educational in nature and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.