The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) represented the Philippines at the 68th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs’ (CND) First Intersessional Meeting held in Vienna, Austria. Building on the 2019 Ministerial Declaration, the session focused on key thematic discussions related to the implementation of all international drug policy commitments.
The Philippine delegation, led by DDB Chairperson-Secretary Oscar Valenzuela, together with the Chief of DDB’s Preventive Education, Training, and Information Division (DDB PETID) Ms. Teresita Pineda and Professor Francis Grace Duka-Pante, Director of the University of the Philippines – ASEAN Training Center for Preventive Drug Education (UP-ATCPDE), participated in the three-day meeting, which placed health and prevention at the center of the global drug policy dialogue.
In strengthening the public health response to drug use, delegates underscored the importance of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. For prevention, policymakers were urged to ACT — Amplify the voice of prevention science by integrating existing prevention systems; Create a culture of prevention through a whole-of-society approach; and Translate prevention science principles into culturally relevant and timely interventions that safeguard people’s well-being.
Taking off from the 2025 World Drug Report, the discussions highlighted that despite growing awareness of the need for treatment and rehabilitation, access to these services remains limited. Women, in particular, continue to face additional barriers including stigma, restrictive social expectations, lack of childcare support, and fear of losing child custody during treatment. Delegates emphasized the need to strengthen health systems, expand access to evidence-based and gender-sensitive treatment services, and integrate mental health care into drug demand reduction efforts.
The sessions also highlighted the need for sustained political and financial commitment to address HIV and Hepatitis C transmission among people who use drugs, confront the emerging threats of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), and improve global access to controlled medicines for medical and scientific purposes.
The Philippines’ participation in this international forum reaffirms its commitment to a balanced, evidence-based, and health-centered approach to drug policy. Through the leadership of the Dangerous Drugs Board, the country continues to share best practices and insights in prevention education, treatment and rehabilitation, and community-based interventions. Its active engagement further strengthens the Philippines’ role as a regional advocate for a public health–oriented and human rights–based drug policy, aligned with national priorities and global frameworks for sustainable development.
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