World Federation Against Drugs
The World Federation Against Drugs is an international network of individuals and nongovernmental organizations advocating a drug-free world and policies aligned with the United Nations drug-control conventions.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD) is an international nongovernmental network focused on drug policy, prevention, recovery, and opposition to the legalization of recreational drugs. It was established in 2009 after the first World Forum Against Drugs, held in Sweden in 2008 by Swedish nongovernmental organizations. The forum created a basis for a permanent international federation and helped establish the organization as a convening platform for groups supporting a drug-free society. WFAD describes illicit drug use as a threat to families, communities, public institutions, and social stability. Its policy orientation favors prevention, treatment aimed at freedom from substance dependence, restrictions on the availability of illicit drugs, and adherence to the international narcotics-control framework, particularly the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. The federation has opposed legalization of cannabis and other recreational drugs, as well as supervised injection facilities and some forms of harm-reduction policy. Its position is that approaches accepting continued drug use can weaken efforts to reduce both demand and supply and may conflict with the goals of the United Nations conventions. The federation's principal activities include international conferences, policy statements, networking among member organizations, and advocacy directed at governments and multilateral institutions. A second World Forum Against Drugs was organized in 2010, and the organization also organized a third forum in Stockholm in May 2012. That meeting included senior policy figures and produced a declaration supporting a humane and balanced drug policy, signed by representatives associated with the United States, Italy, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. WFAD has continued to present itself as an international voice for prohibition-oriented and prevention-centered drug policy. Publicly available reference material reported that the federation comprised 139 organizations in 47 countries in July 2015. The organization is headquartered in Stockholm. No reliable information in the supplied sources establishes a founder, a corporate parent, a listed entity, or a commercial product portfolio. WFAD is best understood as an advocacy and membership network rather than a conventional consumer brand.
History
WFAD emerged from a Swedish civil-society initiative. Swedish nongovernmental organizations organized the first World Forum Against Drugs in 2008 to bring together people and organizations concerned about the direction of international drug policy. The forum provided the setting for discussions that led to the creation of a permanent federation. WFAD was founded in 2009 and subsequently took responsibility for continuing the forum format and building a broader international network. The organization developed as a membership and advocacy network rather than as a commercial enterprise. Reference material reported that it had 139 member organizations in 47 countries by July 2015. Its Stockholm headquarters and international membership reflect its intended role as a transnational policy organization. The federation has worked through conferences, declarations, public positions, and cooperation among nongovernmental organizations rather than through the sale of branded consumer goods. WFAD's central policy objective is a drug-free world. It supports prevention and treatment approaches intended to help people stop using drugs, and it favors national policies that restrict illicit drug supply and demand. The federation links its policy arguments to the international legal framework established by the United Nations drug conventions, with particular emphasis on the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. A defining feature of WFAD's history has been its opposition to drug legalization and to harm-reduction measures that, in its view, normalize or accommodate continued drug use. In a 2008 position, the organization argued that some harm-reduction programs and local legalization initiatives could undermine international efforts to limit drug availability and demand. It has also opposed supervised injection rooms for people who use heroin and has rejected the legalization of cannabis and other recreational drugs. WFAD continued its conference program after its creation. It organized a second World Forum Against Drugs in 2010 and a third forum in Stockholm in May 2012. The third forum included R. Gil Kerlikowske, then the United States government's senior drug-policy official, among its speakers. A declaration supporting a humane and balanced drug policy was signed by representatives connected with the United States, Italy, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The federation has continued to organize international meetings and promote its prevention-centered, prohibition-supporting approach. The supplied reference material does not establish a detailed leadership chronology, a formal corporate ownership structure, or a separate commercial brand portfolio.
- 2015
International network reported at 139 organizations
[1]Reference material reported that WFAD included 139 organizations across 47 countries in July 2015.
- 2012
Third World Forum Against Drugs in Stockholm
[1]The third forum was held in Stockholm and produced a declaration supporting a humane and balanced drug policy.
- 2010
Second World Forum Against Drugs
[1]WFAD organized the second edition of its international drug-policy forum.
- 2009
WFAD established
[1]The World Federation Against Drugs was founded after the initial Swedish forum and adopted the goal of working toward a drug-free world.
- 2008
First World Forum Against Drugs
[1]Swedish nongovernmental organizations hosted the first World Forum Against Drugs, creating the foundation for a permanent international federation.
Products and positioning
An international, prevention-oriented and prohibition-supporting drug-policy network advocating a drug-free world and adherence to the United Nations drug-control conventions.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012Third World Forum Against Drugs
International · Sweden
The Stockholm forum brought together international speakers and government representatives to discuss drug policy and produced a declaration favoring a humane and balanced approach.
Outcome. The declaration was signed by representatives associated with the United States, Italy, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
- 2010Second World Forum Against Drugs
International
WFAD continued the forum series as a venue for international drug-policy advocacy and networking.
Outcome. The forum reinforced WFAD's role as an international conference organizer.
- 2008World Forum Against Drugs
International · Sweden
The inaugural forum convened by Swedish nongovernmental organizations promoted international cooperation around prevention-oriented and prohibition-supporting drug policy.
Outcome. The event contributed to the founding of WFAD in 2009.
Brand decisions
2008
Opposition to legalization and some harm-reduction policiesStrategyBackground
WFAD argued that legalization initiatives and harm-reduction measures accepting continued drug use could weaken international efforts to reduce drug supply and demand.
Action taken
The federation endorsed a drug-free-world objective, opposed recreational-drug legalization and supervised injection rooms, and supported compliance with the United Nations drug conventions.
Aftermath
This position became a central element of WFAD's public identity and policy advocacy.
Recent events
- 2012
Third World Forum Against Drugs convened in Stockholm[1]
Other
The third forum brought together international drug-policy figures in Stockholm and featured a declaration calling for a humane and balanced drug policy.
- 2010
Second World Forum Against Drugs organized[1]
Other
WFAD organized the second World Forum Against Drugs as part of its effort to connect international organizations and maintain a recurring policy dialogue.
- 2009
World Federation Against Drugs founded[1]
Other
WFAD was established as an international federation following the 2008 forum, with a mission centered on achieving a drug-free world.
- 2008
First World Forum Against Drugs held in Sweden[1]
Other
Swedish nongovernmental organizations hosted the first World Forum Against Drugs. The meeting became the institutional starting point for the later creation of WFAD.
Sources2 sources
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