On September 30, 2024, a webinar titled “Building Bridges: Strengthening Global Recovery Systems” was held online to mark International Recovery Day. Organized by the Recovered Users Network (RUN) with support from the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP), the event included participation from the Government Office for Combating Drugs of the Republic of Serbia.

The discussions during the webinar were centered around three key themes outlined in the Global Recovery Document, which the Office has endorsed:

Strengths – Approaching recovery through a strength-based lens
Barriers – Addressing challenges in the recovery process
Systems – Fostering structural change for recovery
The event aimed to equip participants with meaningful insights and practical strategies for:

Understanding recovery as a strength-based approach and identifying strategies to overcome common barriers.
Exploring systemic changes and global cooperation essential for recovery-oriented care systems.
Gaining tools and skills to enhance recovery efforts within organizations and communities.
Participants included representatives from national drug institutions, policymakers, organizations focused on reducing drug demand, civil society groups, recovery advocates, and professionals working in the field.

This gathering contributed to the ongoing efforts to strengthen both global and local recovery systems while promoting collaboration among key stakeholders in addiction recovery.