Strengthening prevention requires more than programs alone. It requires understanding what works, why it works, and how systems can continuously improve to respond to evolving realities.
To strengthen this aspect of prevention work, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), conducted a three-day inter-agency capacity-building workshop on the Review of Prevention Systems (RePS) and the Science of Evaluation. The activity brought together members of the Board’s Demand Reduction Committee (DRC), the Technical Working Group on Drug Abuse Prevention Education (TWG on DAPE), and partner institutions involved in drug demand reduction and preventive education efforts.
Designed as both a technical learning engagement and a collaborative workshop, the initiative focused on strengthening institutional capacity in evaluating prevention systems, analyzing evidence, and applying research-based approaches in policy and program development. Guided by the UNODC–WHO International Standards on Drug Use Prevention, the sessions covered evaluation methodologies, prevention indicators, systems assessment, and the practical use of evidence in improving prevention responses.
A key component of the workshop was the introduction of the Review of Prevention Systems (RePS) framework, a tool that enables institutions to examine the quality, reach, coordination, and effectiveness of prevention initiatives beyond activity-based implementation. Through group discussions, systems mapping, and assessment exercises, participants identified implementation gaps, examined existing approaches, and explored ways to better align strategies, data, and outcomes.
DDB officials likewise underscored the importance of strengthening prevention through evidence, coordination, and continuous learning. DDB Chairperson Secretary Oscar Valenzuela highlighted the role of prevention, education, and early intervention in supporting healthier and more informed choices, particularly among the youth, while DDB Permanent Member and Chair of the Board’s DRC Undersecretary Abad Osit emphasized the need to strengthen research and evaluation capacities across institutions. In his closing message, DDB Permanent Member Undersecretary Armando Ramolete stressed the importance of strategic and coordinated prevention systems that can adapt to emerging social realities through sustained collaboration and research-informed approaches.
With participants coming from institutions in education, health, law enforcement, social welfare, youth development, and policy research, the workshop reinforced the value of a more coordinated and evaluation-oriented approach in strengthening prevention efforts across sectors.
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