Protecting young people from substance use and crime: building safer communities and pathways to support

Protecting young people from substance use and crime: building safer communities and pathways to support

Young people's involvement in substance use and crime cannot be understood without considering the environments in which they grow up. Family circumstances, social connections, exposure to violence and access to opportunities can influence vulnerability, while supportive relationships, education and community engagement can help protect young people and create pathways towards healthier futures.

These issues were explored during Addressing Youth Substance Use and Crime: Risk Factors and Strategies, held on 22 September as part of ISSUP's 2026 virtual conference. Chaired by Guido Prósperi and Radolf Nortey, the session brought together perspectives from the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN), Mexico, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Ghana.

Watch the session recording and explore the presentations.

The discussion explored how young people become vulnerable to criminal recruitment and substance use, the importance of strengthening protective environments, and how community partnerships and youth-centred interventions can contribute to prevention and recovery.

Five perspectives on youth prevention and support

Dr Maxime Hennen, from the European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN), examined the recruitment of young people into organised crime and the implications for prevention.

His presentation highlighted that recruitment is shaped by more than individual decisions. Difficult family circumstances, weak social connections and limited opportunities can increase vulnerability, while criminal networks may exploit young people's needs for belonging, recognition or financial security.

An important message was that online recruitment is connected to offline vulnerabilities. Although digital platforms can facilitate contact and recruitment, restricting online access alone cannot address the underlying circumstances that make young people susceptible.

Effective prevention therefore requires stronger protective environments, coordinated efforts among families, schools and communities, and opportunities to interrupt criminal involvement. Approaches such as focused deterrence, diversion and appropriate alternatives to formal justice responses may also provide pathways away from crime, depending on their design and local context.

Dr Ana Paula Hernández Romano presented Mexico's National Dialogue for Peace, highlighting the importance of collective responsibility and community participation in responding to violence and insecurity.

The initiative brings together civil society, faith-based organisations, educational institutions, communities and other stakeholders to develop shared approaches to peacebuilding.

Her contribution reinforced the idea that preventing youth involvement in violence and crime is not solely the responsibility of law enforcement. Building trust, strengthening social connections and creating opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in community life are also important.

For practitioners and policymakers, the presentation encouraged reflection on how locally led partnerships can support prevention efforts that respond to communities' priorities and circumstances.

Cressida de Witte and Dandy Yela shared experiences from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, examining the connections between youth substance use, violence, prevention and recovery.

Their presentation brought attention to the social and community circumstances that shape young people's experiences and the importance of responses that extend beyond addressing substance use or criminal behaviour in isolation.

The experience from Kinshasa highlighted the potential value of community engagement, supportive relationships and coordinated prevention and recovery initiatives in creating opportunities for young people to move away from harmful situations.

It also raised a practical consideration: interventions must be adapted to local realities, available resources and the needs of young people and their families. Understanding implementation challenges and evaluating outcomes remain essential to identifying which approaches can be sustained or expanded.

Dr Tara Carney, from South Africa, explored peer-based interventions for substance use among young people.

Peer relationships can influence attitudes and behaviours, making them an important consideration for prevention and early intervention. Peer-based approaches may provide opportunities to engage young people through individuals who share similar experiences or understand their social environments.

Her contribution encouraged consideration of how young people can participate meaningfully in interventions, rather than being treated only as recipients of services.

For practitioners, an important lesson is that peer involvement needs clear roles, appropriate training, supervision and safeguarding. Peer participation should complement professional support, with evaluation helping to establish its effectiveness and acceptability in different settings.

Dr Abukari Kwame and colleagues examined how youth substance use is represented in news and social media in northern Ghana.

Their environmental scan highlighted the importance of understanding the public narratives surrounding young people and substance use. Media discussions can influence how communities interpret the issue, including whether young people are primarily viewed through the lens of criminal behaviour or as individuals who may need prevention, care and social support.

The presentation encouraged reflection on how media framing may shape stigma, community attitudes and public responses.

For communication professionals, researchers and prevention practitioners, this raises an important question: Are our messages helping communities understand the factors influencing youth substance use, or are they reinforcing stereotypes that may discourage young people from seeking support?

Putting the learning into practice

Across the presentations, a common message emerged: preventing youth substance use and involvement in crime requires coordinated action that addresses risk factors while strengthening the relationships, environments and opportunities that protect young people.

ISSUP members can consider several practical applications:

• Prevention practitioners and educators can strengthen protective factors through family, school and community-based interventions that support positive relationships, resilience, belonging and opportunities for youth development.

• Justice professionals and policymakers can examine approaches that prevent recruitment, support early intervention and provide appropriate alternatives to formal justice responses, while ensuring that young people's rights and wellbeing remain central.

• Community and faith-based organisations can help build trust, connect young people with appropriate services and create supportive environments. Partnerships with law enforcement should include clear safeguards and avoid using young people's trust primarily for enforcement purposes.

• Youth organisations and peer practitioners can involve young people in designing, delivering and evaluating interventions, with appropriate training, supervision and safeguarding.

• Researchers and communication professionals can examine how youth substance use and crime are represented in public discussions and promote balanced, evidence-informed communication that avoids stigma and reflects the diversity of young people's experiences.

Across these roles, meaningful youth participation is essential. Young people should have opportunities to contribute to decisions affecting them, while partnerships must be built on trust, respect and a commitment to their wellbeing.

ISSUP members could use the session recording to initiate discussions within their National Chapters, professional networks or community organisations. One practical starting point would be to identify a local factor increasing young people's vulnerability and bring relevant partners, including young people themselves, together to explore an achievable prevention or support response.

Further learning and investigation

• European Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN): resources and research supporting evidence-informed crime prevention, including approaches to organised crime and youth vulnerability.

• UNODC–WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention: guidance on effective prevention approaches across families, schools and communities.

• UNODC Youth Initiative: resources and opportunities supporting meaningful youth involvement in substance use prevention.

• WHO and UNICEF – Helping Adolescents Thrive: guidance on strengthening supportive environments and promoting adolescent mental health and wellbeing.

• ISSUP 2026 Session Recordings: revisit the presentations and explore approaches relevant to different professional and community settings.

The session reinforced that protecting young people requires more than preventing substance use or responding to crime after it occurs. Sustainable prevention depends on strengthening protective environments, addressing social vulnerabilities, building trust and ensuring that young people have meaningful opportunities and accessible pathways to support.

By connecting families, schools, communities, justice professionals and young people themselves, prevention efforts can move towards safer, more inclusive environments in which young people have the support and opportunities they need to thrive.