On September 1, 2023, the NGO Re Generacija, with the strategic support of the Office for Combating Drugs of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, held a final conference on the occasion of the presentation of the results of the project entitled “Good policies for a good society.” The project “Good policies for a good society” is implemented within of the advocacy support program Movement Polet, funded by the European Union, and implemented by the Trag Foundation, in partnership with the Center for Social Policy and in cooperation with the Coalition for the Development of Solidarity.

Economy-KoRSE. At the conference, the results of the research and two publications created as part of the project were presented in detail to those present: “Referral system – youth at increased risk” and “Pocket guide” for communication with young people. The knowledge about the needs of young people obtained by the NGO Re Generacija during the research carried out as part of the “Good policies for a good society” project indicates that it is necessary to adopt programs for young people, improve existing ones and create new services in order to respond as fully as possible to the needs of young people at increased risk of using psychoactive substances.

Precisely for this reason, those present had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the publication entitled “Referral system – young people at increased risk”, which was designed as guidelines for employees within the social protection system who are in daily contact with young people, with the aim of providing as complete protection of interests as possible for young people.

Precisely for this reason, those present had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the publication entitled “Referral system – young people at increased risk”, which was designed as guidelines for employees within the social protection system who are in daily contact with young people, with the aim of providing as complete protection of interests as possible for young people.

Accordingly, a pocket guide for communication with young people was created, which was designed precisely on the basis of research results, assessment of needs and resources, work of focus groups with service providers and other relevant activities, with the aim of facilitating service providers through simple, applicable evidence-based approaches communication and work with young people.

After the presentation of the results of the research, a multi-sector panel discussion entitled “Social protection and young people at increased risk – where are we and where to go next” was held, in which the representative of the Trag Foundation, the director of the NGO Re Generacija, the representative of the center for social work, a student of prevention and treatment participated behavioral disorders and a representative of the Chancellery for the fight against drugs of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Following the principles of the European Union and the European Strategy on Drugs for the period 2021- 2025. year, it is necessary to strengthen the systems of providing support to young people, with special reference to young people at increased risk of using psychoactive substances, as a result of which it is advisable to include harm reduction programs as one of the types of services within the social protection system. With the joint cooperation and action of state administration bodies and civil society organizations when it comes to providing support to young people at increased risk, it is possible to provide more complete support to young people and protect their interests to the greatest extent possible, concluded the representative of the Chancellery for the fight against drugs of the Government of the Republic of Serbia Mrs. Branislava Cincarevic.