Egypt’s experience in combating drug abuse has been recognized as a global model by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna.
Egypt is one of seven countries chosen to present its programmes during the 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, currently underway at the UN headquarters in Austria’s capital.
Director of the Egyptian Fund for Combating and Treating Addiction and Abuse Amr Othman , represented his country alongside Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Vienna.
During the session, Othman outlined Egypt’s national strategy to prevent drug abuse and reduce addiction risks, launched under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The strategy emphasizes early prevention, educational and youth awareness programmes, family-targeted interventions, supportive learning and sports environments, and the engagement of religious institutions to correct misconceptions.
Othman also highlighted Egypt’s approach in newly developed urban communities, citing Al-Asmarat as a model of safe, drug-free neighbourhoods with integrated health, educational, and social services.
Programmes include home visits for early detection, youth prevention initiatives, eight community clinics providing free treatment, and training camps to empower local leaders.
Additionally, Egypt has been selected to implement the CHAMPS initiative, aimed at strengthening prevention systems for children up to 18 years old in Al-Asmarat and “Hayat Karima” villages.
This reflects Egypt’s regional leadership in drug prevention and its commitment to international obligations to combat substance abuse and illicit trafficking.
