In a defiant stand against Big Tobacco, Big Alcohol, Big Cannabis, and pro-drug legalisers masquerading as harm reductionists, leaders from Africa and Asia are gathering at All Saints Cathedral this week for the Afri-Asia drug prevention summit, which organisers call a watershed moment in the fight for drug use prevention and recovery.

The Afri-Asia drug prevention summit, running from 27-29 October 2025, arrives at a critical juncture as these battleground regions face unprecedented assault from commercial giants and their allies, peddling substances to already impoverished and broken communities whilst cynically claiming to champion public health.

A Fight for Survival

“Behind every statistic are real lives: children, families, and communities seeking hope,” declared George Ochieng Odalo, Chair of the Planning Committee and Founder of Slum Child Foundation. His words cut through the polite veneer of conference diplomacy to expose the brutal reality facing millions.

This is not merely about policy discussions. The Africa-Asia substance abuse conference represents a united front against an alliance of tobacco giants, alcohol corporations, cannabis commercialisers, and those pushing drug liberalisation under the banner of harm reduction whilst ignoring the catastrophic harm their agenda inflicts on the Global South.

What began as a vision shared by grassroots organisations (the Slum Child Foundation, Student Campaign Against Drugs, and 4th Wave Foundation) has materialised into a powerful coalition backed by Kenya’s Ministry of Health, NACADA, and partners from across both continents. Their message is uncompromising: prevention and recovery must take precedence over commercial interests.

Confronting the Liberalisation Agenda

The opening plenary confronted these forces head-on. Dr Kevin Sabet from Smart Approach against Marijuana USA delivered a stark presentation on global cannabis policy realities, exposing how the push for liberalisation targets vulnerable regions whilst ignoring the evidence of harm, particularly to young people in communities already struggling with limited resources.

Dr Rogers Kasirye from UYDEL Uganda exposed the drug-related harms devastating the Global South, while Ms Diana Joseph from Fourth Wave Foundation India demonstrated how commercial interests and their activist allies exploit South Asia, treating impoverished populations as markets rather than communities to protect.

The summit’s timing could not be more urgent. As Africa and Asia grapple with poverty, conflict, and limited healthcare infrastructure, they face coordinated targeting from tobacco multinationals seeking replacement smokers, alcohol companies expanding into new markets, cannabis corporations positioning for liberalisation, and pro-drug activists promoting policies that devastate communities least able to cope with the fallout.

Prevention as the Front Line

The Afri-Asia drug prevention summit places prevention at its core, directly challenging the narrative pushed by those who claim harm reduction whilst facilitating greater substance availability and normalisation. Dedicated sessions on school-based interventions offer young people genuine alternatives to the substances being marketed with increasing sophistication by tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis industries.

Mr Don Paul from Kenya presented on harnessing youth power for prevention and resilience through life skills education in schools: practical, proven approaches that build defences before commercial interests can establish their grip.

Dr Charity Waithima addressed life skills enhancement for reducing psychoactive substance use amongst school-going adolescents, whilst Mr Chrispinus Misati discussed integrating mental health into youth-focused programmes through the Kujali Intervention, recognising that prevention must address the underlying vulnerabilities that make young people susceptible to exploitation.

Ms Lydia Nsubuga from Uganda explored prevention and resilience building with gender and youth lenses, acknowledging that commercial interests specifically target different demographics with tailored strategies designed to maximise addiction and profit.

Protecting the Most Vulnerable

The Africa-Asia substance abuse conference devoted entire tracks to vulnerable populations: street children, slum residents, and marginalised communities who face the harshest consequences of substance proliferation.

Ms Linda Ochen from Uganda presented on preventing alcohol and drug abuse amongst street children, a population systematically exploited by those who see only market opportunities where others see children in need of protection.

Ms Wanyama Lawrence Lucio from Kenya discussed using sports and peer mentorship to prevent substance abuse and crime amongst vulnerable youth, offering real alternatives to the false promises peddled by commercial interests.

Mr Mogoss Mekonnen from Ethiopia shared his country’s experience building youth resilience through gender-responsive, multi-sectorial approaches. Bishop Titus Niral Kumar from India explored spirituality’s role in reduction efforts from a Global South perspective, recognising that communities need culturally rooted solutions, not imported models designed to open markets.

Recovery and Treatment: Rebuilding What Has Been Broken

Treatment sessions confronted the devastating impact on individuals and families. Dr Pamela Kaithuru from ISSUP Kenya examined psychosocial factors influencing treatment uptake for women with substance use disorders, barriers often exacerbated by the shame and stigma that commercial interests exploit to silence opposition.

Ms Catherine Muthiani from Kenya presented research showing how childhood trauma contributes to opioid addiction among clients at SAPTA’s Harm Reduction Program in Nairobi County, demonstrating how early vulnerabilities are exploited by those profiting from addiction.

Ms Usen Essien Grace Akingbele from Nigeria introduced the CIRCLE Model for inclusive, culturally-responsive treatment, a framework born from African and Asian realities, not imposed from outside.

Building Resistance Through Policy, Education and Advocacy

Day two focused on strengthening civil society resistance. Mr Matej Kosir, Chair of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs, discussed amplifying civil society voices against well-funded commercial lobbying.

Ms Amy Ronshausen from the USA presented on moving from advocacy to action through evidence-based policies, a direct counter to the pseudo-science often deployed by those advocating liberalisation without regard for consequences in vulnerable regions.

George Murimi, Program Officer for Colombo Plan Africa Region, appeared across multiple sessions discussing Africa-Asia cooperation through policy alignment, recognising that divided regions are easier targets for exploitation.

Dr Yvonne Olando from NACADA presented on building sustainable systems through policy perspectives, whilst Dr Wadih Maalouf from UNODC Headquarters in Vienna outlined approaches to strengthening multisectoral cooperation, essential when facing opponents with vast resources and sophisticated strategies.

The Nairobi Declaration: A Line in the Sand

The summit’s centrepiece, the Nairobi Declaration on Drug Demand Reduction, represents more than diplomatic language. It is a commitment to prevention, education, gender equality, youth empowerment, and cross-continental collaboration in the face of powerful opposition.

“Let this Summit be remembered as the moment when Africa and Asia came together not only to discuss challenges, but to lead a global movement for change,” Odalo urged. “May the Nairobi Declaration inspire lasting partnerships and tangible action across our nations.”

The declaration urges governments and organisations to strengthen early intervention, adopt gender-responsive approaches, and expand research, while amplifying vulnerable voices—an issue made particularly urgent as commercial interests overwhelm these voices with marketing budgets that exceed the healthcare spending of entire nations.

Ground Truth: Field Visits Expose Reality

The summit’s third day takes delegates beyond conference rooms to witness reality. Visits to Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital’s Methadone Clinic and Ngara Methadone Clinic will showcase the human cost of substance proliferation, individuals struggling with opioid addiction in communities targeted by those who knew exactly what they were doing.

These are not abstract policy discussions. The Afri-Asia drug prevention summit brings together representatives from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Pakistan, India, Jordan, Australia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, and the USA: nations united in recognising that their youth deserve protection, not exploitation.

“Together, we are building a legacy of prevention, recovery, and hope for our youth, our communities, and future generations,” Odalo declared.

In a world where commercial interests view impoverished regions as opportunities for expansion, the Nairobi gathering represents something increasingly rare: communities refusing to surrender their children to profit-driven agendas masquerading as progress.

The battle lines have been drawn. Africa and Asia are fighting back.