In this episode of Pathways to Prevention, host Dave Closson welcomes inspiring young leaders from across Asia who recently attended the 11th Asian Youth Forum, organized by the Fourth Wave Foundation. The event brought together youth from diverse countries, including Bhutan, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, to address pressing issues like mental health, substance use prevention, and community resilience.

Throughout the episode, these passionate youth leaders share their unique experiences at the forum, discussing what motivated them to attend, how the sessions shaped their views, and what they plan to take back to their communities. They explore the concept of the “prevention influencer,” emphasizing the role of youth in creating positive change and how peer-led initiatives can make prevention efforts more relatable and impactful.

Listeners will hear deeply personal reflections on substance use, leadership, and the importance of cross-cultural collaboration. The episode concludes with these young influencers sharing their upcoming projects, including founding student societies, launching awareness programs, and fostering ongoing partnerships for prevention.

Key Highlights:

• Jigme (Bhutan) discusses the powerful shift in his perception of substance use, learning that people who use substances are victims of their circumstances and deserve empathy and support.
• Shine (India) shares how the forum transformed her views on substance use, helping her develop empathy and awareness. She highlights the need to challenge stigma and redefine what it means to be “cool.”
• Nories (Malaysia) reflects on the importance of using social media to spread prevention messages, particularly around the rise of mushroom vaping among youth in Malaysia.
• Vinay (India) emphasizes the shared challenges faced by communities and the power of collaborative, cross-cultural problem-solving.
• Senuri (Sri Lanka) shares how the forum inspired her to launch a new student society focused on substance use prevention at her university.
• Huy (Vietnam) shares his experience with vulnerable communities affected by substance use and emphasizes the importance of using social media as a tool for prevention influencers.

Memorable Quotes:

• “Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow—we are the leaders of today.” – Jigme
• “To prevent, we need to show love and provide distractions like sports and community events.” – Nories
• “The key to prevention is empathy, not sympathy. We need to see people as humans first.” – Vinay
• “As youth, we stand as your partners in prevention.” – Senuri

Episode Links:

• https://www.fourthwavefoundation.org/
• https://www.fourthwavefoundation.org/11th-asian-youth-forum/
• https://www.facebook.com/fourthwavefoundation/
• https://www.instagram.com/projectvenda/
• https://www.youtube.com/c/FourthWaveFoundation

Drug Free America Foundation Links:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Twitter