In Valjevo, on Friday, October 6, 2023, the non-governmental organization Salvos organized a conference titled “Together for a Better Life.” Besides representatives from the Center for Social Work, directors, and professors, the conference was attended by elementary and high school students, as well as other interested citizens. This conference was a continuation of a project initiated in 2022 with the aim of preventing drug abuse among minors.

The Office for Combating Drugs of the Government of the Republic of Serbia also participated in the conference, with its representative providing attendees with current data on drug abuse among young people on a global, European, and national level. Additionally, attendees were acquainted with the most commonly used psychoactive substances, their effects on the body, and the characteristic traits of those who use them.

In addition to the representative from the Office for Combating Drugs, the conference featured speakers from the NGO Salvos, a senior public prosecutor in Valjevo, a judge from the High Court in Valjevo, a neuropsychiatrist, and a journalist from TV Pink, who has been covering this topic for years.

The conclusion reached by conference participants is the necessity of continuous implementation of preventive programs among young people, open dialogue with them on this topic, and the provision of opportunities for them to actively engage in activities that contribute to reducing the abuse of psychoactive substances and mitigating the associated risks.