By Jessica Cox
Geneva, May 2024 – A new international research project led by graduate students is taking aim at the rising tide of drug use and marginalization among youth in West Africa. Launched in collaboration with the Angie Brooks International Centre (ABIC) and the Graduate Institute Geneva, the initiative focuses on local solutions to a growing public health and social crisis.
In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, illicit drug consumption has sharply increased worldwide. West Africa has become a critical transit zone for substances including cocaine, opioids, synthetic drugs, and potent street drugs such as “kush.” The youth, particularly in economically strained and socially excluded communities, have been hardest hit.
“The consequences go far beyond addiction,” said Sabine Meitzel, Head of ABIC Geneva. “Drug use brings with it a host of gender-specific challenges. Women, for instance, are more likely to suffer harsher treatment, face obstacles accessing care, and are at heightened risk of violence and exploitation.”
The research team—Evangelos Athanasiou, Sana Horikawa, and Shuhei Sogano—is investigating how cities can act as innovation hubs for solutions that address both the health and security aspects of the drug crisis. Supervised by Professor Valerio Simoni, the group is examining strategies that can be scaled to a national level.
“Drug addiction among youth is not just a medical issue—it tears at the social fabric and threatens the future of entire communities,” said Simoni. “We are focused on identifying what’s already working on the ground and turning that data into actionable solutions.”
The project highlights an urgent need for more inclusive, gender-sensitive responses as treatment options remain limited and enforcement policies often fail to address root causes.
As part of the wider initiative, the team is also exploring the role of sports as a unifying force and a tool for youth empowerment in struggling communities.
In many neighborhoods, sports have proven to be an effective means of bringing people together. Televised matches and local games often serve as rare moments of unity, where differences are set aside in favor of shared enthusiasm.
“Sports create safe spaces for youth to express themselves, connect with others, and find a sense of belonging,” the team noted in a joint statement. “This can help reduce social divisions and promote long-term cohesion.”
Under the CCS Plus program, the researchers are assessing how sports can be integrated into community development strategies. Their work includes identifying barriers to implementing such programs and proposing practical, locally adaptable solutions.
With both drug use and youth disengagement on the rise, the project underscores the critical need for creative, community-based interventions that combine health, empowerment, and social transformation.
