H.M. Queen Silvia and Mentor International at the United Nations

Mentor International and H.M Queen Silvia of Sweden attend the General assembly of The United Nations special high-level session on drugs and the NYC launch of Mentor Foundations "Shattering the myth" youth rally.

NEW YORK, NY April 18, 2016 — The General Assembly of the United Nations is organizing a special high-level session on drugs, 19-21 (UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem). Presidents, Ministers, regional and global organizations will attend to discuss global drug challenges.

H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden will address the UNGASS (UN General Assembly Special Session), organized by UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) April 19th on the topic of drug prevention among young people via an international campaign, LISTEN FIRST, in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). LISTEN FIRST’s goals are to influence policy makers to increase their support for science-based prevention and to promote the involvement in the whole family to listen to children and youth as the first step to help them grow healthy and safe.

Mentor International will attend this special session in conjunction with its work to empower children globally and prevent substance abuse. H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden established Mentor International in 1994 in collaboration with the WHO.

“Research shows that youth with mentors are more likely to engage in positive behavior, have increased self-esteem, and set higher education and career goals,” says Karin Jordås, Secretary General of Mentor International, “We are pleased to use this opportunity at the UNGASS to spread the message of how Mentor can make a difference in young people’s lives by working with youth development programs that focus on preventing drug abuse.”

Mentor International and H.M. Queen Silvia will also attend the New York City launch of “Shattering the Myths,” an event hosted by Mentor Foundation USA, in partnership with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Special guest speakers include Dr. Maureen Boyle, Chief of National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Science and Policy Branch and Dr. Lonise Bias, parent testimonial and motivational speaker.

During the event students will have the opportunity to get their questions answered by a leading NIDA scientist and hear about the true dangers of substance use. The program concludes with slam poetry performances by students from High School of Economics & Finance where they express and share their own feelings around substance abuse.