From Urgency to Impact: Advancing Prevention Science to Address Global Challenges in Polysubstance Use and Behavioral Health Disparities

This presentation will be featured at Indonesia 2025, on the 17.09.2025.

Author: Carlton Hall

Abstract:

As the global landscape of substance use continues to evolve—with the rise of polysubstance misuse, increasing commercialization of addictive products, and persistent behavioral health inequities—there is an urgent need to innovate, integrate, and sustain effective prevention approaches. This keynote presentation will explore how reframing current challenges as opportunities for strategic innovation can accelerate population-level reductions in substance use globally.

Drawing from emerging research and decades of community-based prevention practice, the session will examine the intersections of opioid use, marijuana commercialization, vaping, and methamphetamine resurgence. It will further unpack the structural and social determinants contributing to behavioral health disparities, particularly in vulnerable and underserved populations.

Participants will gain access to practical frameworks and evidence-informed strategies that enable community coalitions and global prevention leaders to:

1. Identify and engage vulnerable populations using equitable and culturally responsive methods.

2. Define and address behavioral health disparities within the context of global prevention efforts.

3. Understand the drivers and consequences of polysubstance misuse among youth.

4. Counteract misinformation and myths about marijuana and other substances in the face of rising commercialization.

5. Apply scalable tools to close implementation gaps and strengthen prevention systems worldwide.

This session aims to strengthen international linkages among practitioners, policymakers, and researchers by sharing adaptable prevention tools and fostering a shared commitment to pioneering science with sustainable global impact.