Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs 2025

Time

 Programme 

7.45am – 8.50am 

Registration

8.50am – 9.00am 

Welcome Address
Mr Kok Weng Chew, Executive Director, Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association

9.00am – 9.20am 

Opening Address
Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law, Singapore

9.20am – 9.30am 

Launch of Asia-Pacific Confederation against Drugs

9.30am – 10.10am 

Keynote Address - A Global Challenge, A Shared Responsibility: Uniting for a Drug-Free Future
Ms Amy Ronshausen, President, World Federation Against Drugs

10.10am – 10.40am 

Tea Break

10.40am – 11.20am 

Mexico: The Inferno Of A Drug Cartel War
Mr Ioan Grillo, Author & Journalist

11.20am – 12.00pm 

Paradigm Shift in Prevention: Trends & Challenges in the Future
Mr Matej Kosir, Director, Institute for Research and Development (UTRIP), Slovenia & Chairman, Vienna NGO Committee

12.00pm – 12.30pm 

Dialogue with Keynote and Plenary Speakers

12.30pm – 1.45pm 

Lunch & Exhibition

1.45pm – 2.45pm 

 Concurrent Workshop 1

Workshop 1A: Preventive Drug Education
Workshop will touch on strategies and efforts to address the scourge of drugs through effective preventive drug education.

Positive Psychological Approach for Drug Free Life
Associate Professor Nami Kim, Dean of Dept of Addictions Science, Sahmyook University, South Korea

Singapore's Preventive Drug Education Efforts
Mr Zhong Kangtai, Assistant Director (Planning & Development), Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore  


Workshop 1B: Journey towards a Drug-Free Society – Approaches and Strategies undertaken by Countries and Communities
Workshop will provide insights into the different approaches to drug control adopted by countries and their long-term impact on the population.

Sustainable Impact: Strategies for Building Resilient Communities
Ms Amy Ronshausen, President, World Federation Against Drugs

Journey towards a Drug Free Society – Approaches and Strategies Undertaken by Singapore
Ms Salina Samion & Dr Jasmin Kaur, Principal Psychologists, Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore 



Workshop 1C: Youths And Drug Abuse
Workshop will cover trends and challenges of youth drug abuse and strategies/efforts to address this issue.

Youth Choices Need Validation - Prevention Work at Project VENDA
Ms Diana Vincent, Director, Fourth Wave Foundation, India

Understanding Youths & Drugs First Hand
Mr Jaylen Chua Zhe Lei, Youth Advocate, Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore  

3.00pm – 4.00pm 

Concurrent Workshop 2
 
Country NGO sharing – Stories of success and challenges faced by NGOs
Workshops will touch the drug trends and challenges in the various Asian countries and efforts by the NGOs to address these issues through prevention, treatment and rehabilitation in each jurisdiction.

Workshop 2A 
Thailand – Development of After-Prison Release Linkage to Community-Based Care System
Dr Pokin Sakarinkhul, Coordinator, Addiction Family Medicine and Correctional Health Academic Network (ACHAN)

Singapore – SANA's Efforts Towards Achieving a Drug-Free Singapore
Mr Anderson Neo, Deputy Head Aftercare, Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA)

Workshop 2B
Malaysia – Green Crescent Malaysia's Efforts in Addressing Drug Issues
Dr Ahmad Fairuz Mohamed, President, Green Crescent Malaysia (GCM)

Hong Kong SAR, China - Drug Abuse and Recovery – Stories of Success and Challenges  
Ms Angelique Tam, Executive Director, The Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA)

Workshop 2C

Indonesia - Collaborative Governance in the Implementation of Drug Clean Village  
Mr Heru Winarko, Member, Gerakan Nasional Anti Narkoba (GRANAT) Advisory Board and Mr Tony Parbudi, Advisor, Assistance and Empowerment Foundation for Papuan Community (YP2MP)

Philippines – Coalition Development in the Philippines
Dr Raquel Tolentino, Founder and CEO, Association of Anti-Drug Abuse Coalitions (AADAC)
 

4.00pm – 4.25pm 

 Tea Break

4.25pm – 5.00pm 

Hot Topics in Drug Policy and Drug Legalization
Dr Kevin Sabet and Mr Luke Niforatos, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)

5.00pm – 5.15pm 

Sharing of Lived Experiences
Mr Alvin Chiong, SANA Peer Leader

5.15pm – 5.45pm 

Dialogue with Plenary Speakers

5.45pm

End of Forum

7.30pm – 9.00pm 

Welcome Dinner
Hosted by Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of National Development

Time

 Programme 

8:30am – 12:00pm

Concurrent Site Visits
Participants are to STRICTLY adhere to the guidelines for visits, accessible through the following link.

Visit 1: Institution S1
[Gather at Hotel Lobby latest by 8.30 AM]

Visit 2: Community Rehabilitation Centre and Green Haven Halfway House
[Gather at Hotel Lobby latest by 8.15 AM]

Visit 3: Jamiyah Halfway House
[Gather at Hotel Lobby latest by 8.45 AM]

12:00pm – 2:30pm

Lunch

2:30pm – 6:00pm

Drug Victims Remembrance Day Ceremony
[Gather at Hotel Lobby latest by 2.15 PM]

Time

 Programme 

8.30am – 5.00pm

Workshop: Evidence-informed Approaches to Preventive Drug Efforts
Mr Matej Kosir, Director, Institute for Research and Development (UTRIP), Slovenia & Chairman, Vienna NGO Committee and Ms Amy Ronshausen, President, World Federation Against Drugs
[Gather at Hotel Lobby latest by 8.00 AM]

Amy Ronshausen
Executive Director, Drug Free America Foundation, Inc. and Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S.)

Amy Ronshausen is the Executive Director of both Drug Free America Foundation, Inc. and Save Our Society From Drugs (S.O.S.), national nonprofit organizations that work to prevent substance abuse, increase access to evidence-based treatment, and promote sustained recovery.

Mrs. Ronshausen has dedicated most of her adult life to the work of drug demand reduction. In her sixteen years with Drug Free America Foundation and S.O.S, she has assisted in coordinating successful grassroots advocacy campaigns to promote sound drug policy, analyzed and tracked state and federal drug policy legislation, and trained prevention professionals at local, national and international conferences. Mrs. Ronshausen regularly testifies on issues related to drug demand reduction on the local and global stage.

Prior to coming to DFAF, Mrs. Ronshausen spent three years as a program specialist with the Pinellas County Adult Drug Court, working under four judges. While in drug court, Mrs. Ronshausen linked defendants with treatment providers and monitored their progress through the criminal justice system. Mrs. Ronshausen started her work in drug prevention with Operation PAR, where she started off as a call specialist in their access center and then worked as a juvenile certified GAIN assessor. She also worked as a juvenile counselor for PAR’s Adolescent Recovery Intervention Services and the Juvenile Enhancement Treatment Services and is trained in Motivational Enhancement and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Mrs. Ronshausen volunteers as the Executive Director for the Florida Coalition Alliance, representing over 30 community anti-drug coalitions. She chairs the Marijuana Task Force as part of the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance and serves on the Pinellas County Opioid Task Force. Mrs. Ronshausen serves on the board of Informed Families, is an advisory board member for the Foundation for a Drug Free World, a member of the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) and a master trainer for the Universal Prevention Curriculum (UPC).

After being reelected in 2024, Mrs. Ronshausen serves as International President of the World Federation Against Drugs, a multilateral community of non-governmental organizations and individuals.

In 2023, Ms. Ronshausen was appointed by Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, to serve as a member of the Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement.

Mrs. Ronshausen received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of South Florida.

Presentation Details
Keynote Address Title:  "A Global Challenge, A Shared Responsibility: Uniting for a Drug-Free Future"

In this address, we will explore the pressing realities of the global drug crisis, examining the complex challenges it poses to societies worldwide. Amid these challenges, we will celebrate stories of resilience, innovation, and success, demonstrating the power of collaborative action and evidence-based strategies. This session will serve as a call to action, encouraging participants to engage deeply and collaboratively over the coming days as we work towards sustainable solutions.

Breakout Workshop Title: "Sustainable Impact: Strategies for Building Resilient Communities”

This workshop will examine innovative and effective approaches implemented across the globe to address substance use and promote long-term community health. Participants will gain practical insights into strategies such as community-based prevention, public-private partnerships, and culturally sensitive interventions. By the end of the session, attendees will leave equipped with actionable tools and inspiration to drive meaningful change in their own communities.

Anderson Neo
Deputy Head Aftercare, Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association
 

Anderson Neo is a Senior Social Worker at the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA), a Registered Social Worker with the Singapore Association of Social Workers, and a Certified Substance Abuse Counsellor with the Association of Professionals Specialising in Addiction Counselling. With extensive experience in aftercare case management, Anderson supports individuals in achieving sustainable recovery and reintegration.

Passionate about fostering innovation in the field, Anderson is deeply committed to bridging the gap between practice and research, ensuring that aftercare services remain impactful and evidence-informed. Committed to a client-centered approach, Anderson collaborates with stakeholders to address systemic barriers, family dynamics, and social reintegration challenges faced by persons in recovery.

An advocate for mentorship and professional growth, Anderson actively supports the development of future social work practitioners while championing SANA's mission to reduce recidivism and promote lasting change. Through collaboration and dedication, Anderson strives to build stronger, drug-free communities in Singapore and beyond.
 

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is "SANA's Efforts Towards Achieving a Drug Free Singapore" 

The sharing will cover the work SANA does in partnering politicians, government agencies, other NGOs and the community to advance towards a Drug Free Singapore. SANA's footprints can be seen in schools, prisons, drug rehabilitation centres, as well as both the local and international community. We will outline our successes, struggles and learnings in our fight against drugs.

Ioan Grillo
Author & Journalist
 

Ioan Grillo is a British journalist and author based in Mexico City and specializing on covering drugs and organized crime. He has reported on these issues from over 30 countries including the United States, Colombia, Venezuela, Thailand, Laos, Jamaica, Romania, Serbia, France, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Haiti and Brazil. He has worked for media outlets including Time Magazine, The New York Times, CNN, Reuters, The BBC, The Telegraph and Esquire. He is author of the books, El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency (2011), Gangster Warlords: Drug Dollars, Killing Fields and the New Politics of Latin America (2016) and Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs and Cartels (2021) all released by Bloomsbury Publishing. He has worked on documentaries including Narco Wars for National Geographic and Massacre of the Mormons for HBO Max. In 2022, he won Columbia University's Maria Moors Cabot Prize for coverage of Latin America.

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is " Mexico: The Inferno Of A Drug Cartel War"

In Mexico, there have been more than 400,000 murders since 2006, with about two thirds of them estimated to be caused by drug cartels. Mass graves haunt communities, shoot-outs force school children to hide under their desks, and refugees flee the country. Despite the catastrophe, drug traffickers continue to make billions smuggling drugs to Americans and have moved from marijuana, heroin and cocaine to crystal meth and fentanyl. The shift to synthetic drugs has driven the world's worst ever overdose crisis in the United States with more than 100,000 people dying from O.D's for several years running. In response, the new government of Donald Trump has ordered cartels to be classified as terrorist organizations and called for their "total elimination." Ioan Grillo has been covering Mexico's drug war since 2001 from the mountains where the cartels grow opium to the murderous barrios of cities on the U.S. border. He talks about what this conflict looks like on the ground and why other countries, from Asia to Europe to North America, have to take notice.

Alvin Chiong
SANA Peer Leader
 

Over the course of his life, Mr Alvin Chiong has been incarcerated 4 times following multiple relapses. His drug addiction resulted in a divorce, with his wife taking both their sons with her.

Alvin's turning point came after a failed suicide attempt, following which he enrolled himself in a halfway house, before relapsing. After continuing with his struggle, he asked for the halfway house to take him back and was determined to stay clean.
Alvin has since desisted from drugs and even quit smoking. In recent years, he took up cooking as a chef and has spent much of his time since giving back to the community, and is an active prison volunteer, guide with Architects of Life's (AOL) Triad Trails programme, and SANA Peer Leader since 2018.

Presentation Details
Alvin will be sharing on his lived experiences, from his fall to drugs, challenges he faced and subsequent journey towards desisatance.

Angelique Tam
Executive Director, The Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA)

Angelique has served as the Executive Director of the Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA) for 14 years. She has been involved in the community services include the Advisory Committee on the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged, the Beat Drugs Fund vetting panel, and the Post-Release Supervision Board. She is passionate about promoting community awareness of drug treatment, rehabilitation, and anti-drug education, she addresses the needs of rehabilitants and their families. Currently, Angelique is a member of the Three-Year Plan on Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Services in Hong Kong SAR, China under the Narcotics Division, Security Bureau, and serves on the steering committee of the International Federation of Non-Government Organizations for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse (IFNGO), as well as the Barristers Disciplinary Tribunal Panel.

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is "Drug Abuse and Recovery – Stories of Success and Challenges" 

"The Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA) has been serving in Hong Kong SAR, China over 60 years. Through comprehensive and innovative treatment programs, SARDA has helped countless individuals and families in overcoming drug addiction and rebuilding their lives."

Diana Vincent
Director, Fourth Wave Foundation
 

Diana is Founder, Director of Fourth Wave Foundation, India. She has a Masters in Human Resource and an Advanced Management Program in Corporate Social Responsibility from Swedish Institute Stockholm, Sweden. Her important projects and papers address the issues of child rights, inclusion and disability and youth drug prevention and education. Diana has her papers and articles co-authored as Joseph D published in Springer and The International Society of Business, Economics, and Ethics (ISBEE). She is as Task Force member on Special Problems of Social Groups. for the Office of the State Education Policy Commission. 

Her unique innovative social- developmental model of instilling community participation in change has own her projects various recognitions and awards. She is recipient of the Digital Equity Accelerator Award by HP Foundation and HP Inc, 13th National Award for Universal Design - National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), Millennium Alliance Award - Education & COVID-19 Innovation by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt of India. She was featured by Kerala Insider and listed as '50 Most Influential People in Kerala' and Awarded the Prestigious Zero Project Award 2024 at the United Nations in Vienna, for Innovation in Inclusive Education and ICT. 

Diana serves on the Board of The World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD) Deputy Board Member representing Asia and as Board Member for Asia with the MOVENDI International. 

Presentation Details

The title of the presentation is "Youth Choices Need Validation: Enabling Prevention and Driving Behavioural Change Through Positive Reinforcement - A Fourth Wave Foundation Approach." 

Young adults in today’s digital age, with access to information, driven by the growth of internet, mobile technology, and the influence of digital culture shaping the way they communicate, learn, and interact are constantly challenged by normalisation of drug use leading to early onset. Studies from 2021 and 2022 show that 14% of internet users are children, while youth between 18-25 make up the largest group of social media users in India. And one-third of young users engage with six to nine platforms simultaneously. 

Young Adults exposed to content that glorifies or normalises substance abuse through memes, videos, posts, or stories from celebrities and influencers or even their peers, seem to also normalise risky behaviours in real life. This often escalates to increase in the likelihood of experimentation, use and drug dependency among children and youth. 

In this context is the challenge of working on enabling behaviour change. Positive strength-based reinforcement can be either classified as positive or negative. The repetition of a habit based on a relationship with a stimulus, is known as reinforcement. However, the evidence is amassing that using strengths-based approach promotes wellness in growing children and young adults. Validation and affirmation through strength-based approach can break this vicious cycle. 

If we were to utilize a strengths-based approach, where would we start?

Fortunately, our work at Fourth Wave Foundation is evidence that, it is not only a method that can be used in treatment and recovery but can be extended to enable effective drug use prevention in youngsters and enable them to steer clear from experimentation, early onset and managing peer pressure. By engaging them to focus on health as an asset, this approach works in synergy with the medical model to recovery. It underscores the importance of using ‘validation’ as a tool to sustain the psychological wellbeing needs during these crucial years of growth, as adolescence is a critical stage for identity and personality formation. 

This approach works to promote wellness and can be harnessed for peer lead prevention interventions. Our extensive work with children in safeguarding their rights over the last 20 years point to a need for intervention through a multi-faceted approach. Our work in this regard lends evidence, to the fact that, this method works to promote optimism in children and adolescents, and comprehensively caters to their mental health, physical well-being and social development. 

Dr Ahmad Fairuz Mohamed
President, Green Crescent Malaysia
 

Born in Malaysia's Johor province, Dr Ahmad Fairuz is a Public Health (Occupational Health) Physician. He has a Doctorate from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) awarded him a doctorate in medicine, while Universiti Sains Malaysia awarded him a Postgraduate Master's Degree in Public Health and PhD in Biomedicine (Public Health, Occupational Safety and Health). He holds an AOEMM (Medical Review Officer) certification for testing for drugs and alcohol. The Royal Malaysian Airforce trained him as an aviation medicine medical officer. He is the Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and Petronas Brunei Medical Examiner (AME). He is an accredited trainer and awarded as an excellent trainer. 

He is a founding team member and currently the President of Green Crescent Malaysia. He was also appointed as a Board Member of the International Federation of Green Crescent. He is actively involved as a speaker and moderator for conferences, meetings, trainings and seminars at the international and local levels. 

At numerous local and worldwide publishers, he has given presentations and published papers and books. For local and international conferences, seminars, trainings and meetings, he was invited to lecture, train, and serve on panels.

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is "Green Crescent Malaysia's Efforts in Addressing Drug Issues" 

Green Crescent Malaysia (GCM) focuses on addiction prevention through public awareness campaigns, youth engagement programs, and training for educators and healthcare professionals. It advocates for evidence-based policies on addiction prevention and actively participates in global initiatives like the Vienna NGO Committees (VNGOC). GCM implements community-based interventions and collaborates with local and international organizations to address addiction issues effectively. The organization supports research to develop targeted strategies and incorporates mental health and holistic well-being programs to address underlying causes of addiction. By combining education, advocacy, and community empowerment, GCM promotes a healthier, addiction-free society.

Dr Pokin Sakarinkhul, MD.
Coordinator, Addiction Family Medicine and Correctional Health Academic Network (ACHAN)
 

Dr. Sakarinkhul is a highly experienced and skilled addiction family physician with significant contributions to primary healthcare development, particularly at Lamphun Hospital in Lamphun Province, Thailand.  He is a recipient of the prestigious International Travel Scholarship from the Royal College of General Practitioners, UK, a testament to his academic excellence and commitment to continuous professional development.  He is now coordinating The Addiction Family Medicine and Correctional Health Academic Network (ACHAN) which aims to empower former incarcerated individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the healthcare system and community resources. His work focuses on preventative medicine and primary care services, emphasizing the importance of community support and building partnerships between prison staff, healthcare professionals, and NGOs, to create a seamless transition for released individuals. He has also been a member of the Substance Abuse Academic Center Foundation, advocating for substance use demand reduction.

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is "Development of After-Prison Release Linkage to Community-based Care System" 

Dr Sakarinkhul will discuss on the rationale, current prison health measures in Thailand, potential resources for developing effective linkage to community-based care, best practices of re-entry programs, relationships and connections, system change framework, and the proposed proof-of-concept project.

Dr Raquel P. Tolentino, DDM, MBA
Founder and CEO, Association of Anti-Drug Abuse Coalitions of the Philippines, Inc.
 

Dr. Tolentino is a graduate of Doctor of Dental Medicine at the UE College of Dentistry with Trainings on General Orthodontics and Forensic Odontology, and a Fellow of Pierre Fauchard Academy International (Region IX-Asia).She earned her Master's Degree in Business Administration at the Pamantasan ng Muntinlupa.

She is a Company Dentist of Delsa Inc & Kawasaki Motors Phils, and a Volunteer Dentist at Barangay Ayala Alabang Health Clinic. She was the former Chief Project Officer of the Philippine Anti-Drug Strategy Project Management Office of the Department of Interior and Local Government and former Department Head of DAPCO Muntinlupa City.

She has been the in-country coordinator of CADCA to the Philippines since 2015. She represented the country as an NGO in various international conferences such as the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna, the ISSUP Conferences in Vienna, Abu Dhabi and Greece, and the CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute in the US from 2012-2024

She was able to form a team of anti-drug abuse advocates and established the Association of Anti-Drug Abuse Coalitions of the Philippines Inc where she led as the Chairman and CEO from 2016 till 2021.

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is "Coalition Development in the Philippines" 

The presentation will showcase the civil society organization initiatives and partnership with the national and local government. Dr Raquel will share about Coalition products, participation in the policy formulation and the Coalitions' role in support of the government's drug demand reduction program.

Tony Parbudi
Advisor, Assistance and Empowerment Foundation for Papuan Community (YP2MP)

A retired financial executive who joined GRANAT in 2008 and assigned to run its international relations department. He successfully introduced and engaged the organization to the international community. Since 2020, he continues this humanitarian work with YP2MP, an NGO he founded which focuses on providing assistance to Papuan communities, especially street children, to recover from drug addiction while empowering the community to work together in drug prevention. In addition to working for YP2M, Parbudi simultaneously works with One Voice One Message (OVOM), a global platform for drug prevention

Heru Winarko
Member, GRANAT Advisory Board

Born in Jakarta, Indonesia, Heru Winarko graduated from the Indonesia National Police Academy in 1985 and has a Bachelor of Law from Pancasila University. In 2015, he was selected as Deputy for Enforcement of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), tasked to carry out the function of formulating policies for the sub-fields of investigation and prosecution in the anti-corruption agency. 

Heru was appointed as the Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in 2018. He is currently a Professional at National Resilience Institute and Member of GRANAT Advisory Board.
 

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is "Collaborative Governance In The Implementation Of Drug Clean Village"

Sharing on the collaboration efforts between NGO and the Government agencies in realising a drug-free village, focussing on the Jakarta region.

Jaylen Chua Zhe Lei
Youth Advocate

A passionate young learner, public servant and educator, Jaylen Chua Zhe Lei is deeply committed to understanding and developing the world and its societies through empathetic dialogue and applications, particularly in areas relating to youth, crimes and narcotics abuse. With his love for problem-solving and belief in the transformative power of education and policy, he has participated and led in various events and initiatives in Singapore and beyond that seeks to tackle the root causes of drug abuse across the world starting from the most vulnerable of youths today. 

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is " Understanding Youths & Drugs First Hand"

In a world where drugs are increasingly affecting the youngest of our society, what can youths do and what can we learn from them to combat this issue from both root and stem? We will explore Jaylen's contributions to the field of drug prevention in Singapore as a youth, as well as different ideas and beliefs of youths from across the world to find out.

Dr Kevin A. Sabet, PHD
President and CEO, Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) and Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)

An affiliate of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies and the Medical School at Yale University, and dubbed by NBC News as the "prodigy of drug politics," and by Salon as the "quarterback of the new anti-drug movement," author, consultant, and advisor to three U.S. presidential administrations, Kevin A. Sabet, Ph.D., has studied, researched, written about, and implemented drug policy for over 25 years. He is the only person appointed by Republican and Democrats to work at the White House drug office. Kevin is currently the President and CEO of the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions (FDPS) and SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana), two non-profit organizations he founded with Congressman Patrick Kennedy. His latest book, Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn't Want You to Know, distributed by Simon & Schuster, won the Next Generation Indie Book Award in the Social Justice Category, and has been optioned for a documentary film. His upcoming book, One Nation Under the Influence, will be published by Polity in 2025. He regularly publishes op-eds and his work has been seen in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and other publications; he is also a regular columnist for Newsweek. He received his doctorate and master's degrees from Oxford University and BA from the University of California, Berkeley.

Luke Niforatos
Executive Vice President, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM)

Luke Niforatos serves as the Executive Vice President of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) and is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading drug policy experts. Leveraging more than a decade working on drug, addiction and health care issues, Luke drives the strategy behind SAM's federal, state, and educational initiatives. Luke has testified in state capitols across America. He is a sought-after guest at major media outlets including ABC, Fox News, NBC, CNBC, CSPAN, Newsmax, and network affiliates, as well as syndicated and local radio shows in markets coast to coast. Luke has been featured in Time Magazine and as a speaker at drug policy events held by The Economist, the United Nations' Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and hundreds of town halls. Prior to joining SAM, he was the co-founder of a successful healthcare company. Luke attended the University of Denver and has a Master of Arts from Johns Hopkins University. 

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is "Hot Topics in Drug Policy and Drug Legalization"

Today's marijuana is much more potent than in the past — with pot edibles, candies, cookies, ice creams, and waxes being up to 99% THC. In comparison, marijuana in the Woodstock era contained 5% THC. Dr. Kevin Sabet and Luke Niforatos will take participants through the latest facts and figures on what is really happening in legalized states and the overall goal of the legalization movement.

Matej Košir
Director, Institute for Research and Development (UTRIP), Slovenia and Chairman, Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC)
 

Matej Košir is the Director of Institute "Utrip" from Slovenia (www.institut-utrip.si) and coordinator of the national prevention network in Slovenia, the Prevention Platform (www.preventivna-platforma.si). He has been working in prevention and advocacy in the field of substance use (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs) and other risk behaviours and addictions for around 25 years. In 2017, he was awarded the Leading European Prevention Science Practitioner Honour by the European Society for Prevention Research (EUSPR). In 2020, the Society for Prevention Research (SPR) honoured him and his wife (Sanela Talić) with the International Collaborative Prevention Research Award. He is the Chairman of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) and former President of the International Confederation of Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drug (ATOD) Research Associations (ICARA). He is a PhD candidate in prevention science at the University of Zagreb (Croatia).

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is "Paradigm Shift in Prevention: Trends & Challenges in the Future" 

The presentation explores the evolving landscape of prevention strategies, with a focus on evidence-based approaches. It highlights current global trends in prevention, the cost-effectiveness of interventions and the critical need for early prevention measures. The discussion covers key challenges such as sustainable funding, education, monitoring and evaluation, while advocating for a shift from ineffective practices towards evidence-based, scalable solutions. The presentation aims to provide participants with insights to address health and social inequalities through comprehensive data-driven prevention strategies.

Nami Kim
Dean of Addiction Science Department, Sahmyook University
 

Dr. Nami Kim is the dean of Addiction Science Department at Korean Sahmyook University. She is a certified addiction psychologist and ICAP international addiction specialist. She is serving as the director of the SW Addiction Prevention and Rehabilitation Center, and also of ITTC Korea. Additionally, Dr. Nami Kim holds the position of Vice President at the Korean Addiction Psychology Association.

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is " Positive Psychological Approach for Drug Free Life" 

This lecture aims to present the necessity and importance of utilizing a positive psychological approach to build a drug-free life. It will introduce specific methods and examples of positive psychological interventions for drug prevention education.

Dr Jasmin Kaur
Principal Psychologist, Ministry of Home Affairs
 

Dr Jasmin Kaur is a clinical psychologist who had worked at the Singapore Prison Service for over 18 years. She helmed the Correctional Research Branch, Programme Design & Evaluation Branch and Data & Analytics Branch over a span of 10 years. She spearheaded the development and validation of several assessment and screening tools for SPS for both staff selection and offender management. As part of the Office of Chief Psychologist in the Ministry of Home Affairs, she formed and leads a workgroup that supports research efforts to develop and elucidate the Singapore model of drug prevention and rehabilitation.

Jasmin has published and presented at international conferences in the areas of resilience, drug rehabilitation and decision-making of drug offenders. She is currently a Director of the Home Team Centre for Leadership at the Home Team Academy. She is concurrently an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the National University of Singapore Psychology Department.
 

Salina Samion
Principal Psychologist, Ministry of Home Affairs
 

Ms Salina Samion is a counselling psychologist with 20 years’ experience working with the offender population.  She headed the Psychological Programme Development Branch and led the development of various evidence-based programmes in Singapore Prison Service (SPS), including the first gender specific intervention for female offenders. She also helmed CNB Psychological Unit and pioneered the core skills training in effective supervision for CNB officers, that contributed to evidence based informed drug supervision.  Salina co-led the MHA Office of Chief Psychologist drug workgroup that aims to support Singapore’ approach in drug prevention and rehabilitation through research and evidence.

Salina has published and presented at local and international conferences, including the UNODC where she represented Singapore at the Informal Technical Consultation: Principles for Treatment and Care of People with Drug Use Disorders in Contact with the Criminal Justice System: Alternatives to Conviction or Punishment. She is currently Deputy Director of the Psychological and Correctional Division that oversees the correctional research and evaluation, programme design and implementation at Singapore SPS.

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is “Journey towards a Drug Free Society – Approaches and Strategies undertaken by Singapore”

The sharing will cover Singapore's comprehensive approach to achieving a drug-free society encompasses stringent laws, robust prevention strategies, and effective rehabilitation programs. The presentation aims to share the evidence supporting Singapore's strategies, with a particular focus on the principles of the country's evidence-informed approach to throughcare drug rehabilitation. By utilizing best practices and adapting them to the unique, multi-ethnic context of Singapore, we aim to support the prevention and recovery of drug abuse, enabling our citizens to strive towards a safe and drug-free society. This presentation will elucidate how evidence and best practices are integrated into local strategies to achieve these goals.

Zhong Kangtai
Assistant Director (Planning & Development), Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore

With over 12 years of service in the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Kangtai has garnered extensive experience in enforcement, investigation, and policy development work. He is currently under the DrugFreeSG (DFSG) Office, which was formed within the Communications Division to drive CNB's community engagement and education efforts through preventive drug education (PDE), content development and training, outreach campaigns and community partnership.

As a member of the Planning & Development Unit within the office,  he supports the Inter-Ministry Committee (IMC) on Drug Prevention for Youths and its Working Committee by providing the full suite of content development and training delivery to the IMC-appointed DrugFreeSG Champions and stakeholders to enable them to disseminate PDE through government networks and platforms.
 

Presentation Details
The title of the presentation is " Singapore's Preventive Drug Education Efforts"

In this session, Kangtai will share insights on Singapore's drug situation and efforts from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) to drive preventive drug education (PDE) across the nation. The presentation will also cover CNB's three strategies thrusts on building partnership and sustaining engagement with the public, by adopting a whole-of-government approach to address the drug situation in Singapore, working with community partners to support CNB's efforts in reaching out to youths and family focused organisations, and building a core group of volunteers to speak up for the anti-drug cause within their spheres of influence.