Connecting Evidence, Prevention, Law Enforcement and Community Action: Key Insights from ISSUP 2026
How do we go about translating evidence into effective action, strengthen prevention, address drug-related crime, improve access to treatment and recovery support, and build safer, healthier communities?
This age-old question was explored during ISSUP's 2026 Virtual Conference, held on 22–23 September 2026 under the theme Connecting Sectors, Creating Impact: A United Response on Drugs.
Bringing together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, law enforcement professionals and community representatives from different regions, the conference provided an opportunity to exchange evidence, share experiences and engage on practical approaches across prevention, treatment, recovery, supply reduction, criminal justice and community engagement.
Across four sessions, speakers explored advances in prevention, treatment and recovery support, alongside the role of law enforcement, drug supply reduction (DSR), criminal justice responses, youth engagement, community and faith-based initiatives. Discussions highlighted the importance of connecting efforts in prevention, treatment and recovery; and drug supply reduction, strengthening professional capacity and improving collaboration across sectors.
This reading list revisits the four conference sessions, highlighting emerging key messages, practical considerations and resources for further learning.
Explore the Conference Sessions
1. From Evidence to Practice: Advances in Substance Use Disorder Care
This session explored how scientific evidence can be translated into effective prevention, treatment and recovery support. Presentations highlighted the importance of evidence-based standards, professional development, implementation capacity and continuous evaluation.
Speakers also examined opportunities to expand early intervention beyond traditional healthcare settings, including the role of drug law enforcement agencies in screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment. The discussions reinforced the importance of strengthening systems that connect individuals with appropriate care while addressing the social and structural conditions influencing sustained recovery.
2. Addressing Youth Substance Use and Crime: Risk Factors and Strategies
Focusing on young people, this session examined the factors contributing to vulnerability to substance use, drug-related crime and recruitment into criminal activities.
Presentations explored prevention strategies, protective environments and the importance of collaboration between families, schools, communities, law enforcement and other relevant services. The discussions highlighted the need to address both individual vulnerabilities and wider social and environmental influences, including exposure to criminal networks and drug markets.
Particular attention was given to meaningful youth participation, early intervention and opportunities to strengthen community safety through coordinated prevention and crime reduction efforts.
3. Intersectoral Collaboration for Effective Substance Use Responses
This session highlighted the importance of cooperation between health, law enforcement, criminal justice, social services and community organisations in responding to substance use and its health and social consequences.
Speakers explored approaches to strengthening referral pathways, improving access to care and developing coordinated responses for individuals who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Discussions also considered the contribution of law enforcement and justice professionals to identifying risks, supporting early intervention and connecting individuals with appropriate services.
The session reinforced the value of collaboration between prevention, treatment, recovery and drug supply reduction stakeholders, recognising their distinct but complementary roles in addressing harms associated with substance use, reducing offending and improving community safety.
4. Faith-Based Approaches: The Role of Faith and Religious Institutions in Addressing Substance Use
The final session explored how faith-based organisations and religious institutions can contribute to substance use prevention, recovery support and community engagement.
Drawing on experiences from different cultural and religious contexts, speakers discussed the role of trust, belonging, local leadership and supportive relationships in reaching individuals and families affected by substance use.
The presentations also highlighted opportunities for faith-based organisations to collaborate with health professionals, community services and other stakeholders, complementing evidence-based interventions and helping strengthen local support networks.
Connecting the Learning: Towards a More Coordinated Response
Across the four sessions, several common messages emerged, highlighting the importance of comprehensive, evidence-informed and collaborative responses to substance use and drug-related challenges.
Translating evidence into practice. A strong evidence base, international standards and effective interventions provide an essential foundation. However, their impact depends on professional capacity, supportive policies, effective implementation, focussed evaluation and adaptability to local contexts.
Connecting prevention, treatment, recovery and drug supply reduction. Prevention, treatment and recovery support are important components of efforts to address substance use and associated harms, alongside efforts to address drug trafficking, illicit markets and drug-related offending. Greater cooperation and information exchange between sectors can help strengthen coordinated approaches while respecting their different responsibilities and mandates.
Recognising the role of law enforcement and criminal justice. Beyond enforcement activities, law enforcement and justice professionals can contribute to prevention, early identification, referral pathways and community safety. Collaboration with health and social services can create opportunities to connect individuals with appropriate support and reduce repeated contact with the criminal justice system.
Strengthening prevention and youth engagement. Effective prevention requires attention to the environments in which young people live, learn and interact. Families, schools, communities, youth organisations and relevant public institutions all have roles in strengthening protective factors and reducing exposure to substance use and criminal involvement.
Expanding access and supporting sustained recovery. Access to evidence-based treatment is essential, but positive outcomes also depend on continuity of care, housing, employment, social inclusion and community support. Responses should consider the wider circumstances affecting individuals and their opportunities for recovery.
Building partnerships across sectors and communities. No single organisation or sector can address the complexity of substance use and its health, social and community impacts alone. Collaboration between policymakers, researchers, health and social care professionals, law enforcement, justice institutions, community organisations and faith-based groups can strengthen the reach, relevance and sustainability of interventions.
Continuing the Conversation
ISSUP 2026 reinforced the importance of bringing together different perspectives, disciplines and sectors to address the interconnected challenges of substance use, drug-related crime and community safety.
The conference discussions demonstrated how research, professional expertise, law enforcement experience, youth perspectives and community engagement can contribute to more informed policies and practices.
ISSUP members are encouraged to explore the session summaries, revisit the presentations and consider how the lessons shared can inform their work and strengthen collaboration in their own contexts.
By connecting evidence with action, and strengthening cooperation across prevention, treatment, recovery support, drug supply reduction, law enforcement and community services, we can contribute to more coordinated, inclusive and sustainable responses that promote healthier individuals and safer communities.
