On Tuesday, April 1st, 2025, the 23rd regular Assembly session of the Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE was held at the Mozaik Startup Studio. During the session, the results from 2024 were presented, along with the plans and priorities for the upcoming period. The Assembly was attended by members of the Association, collaborators, partners, and volunteers. The participants had the opportunity to hear about the progress achieved, as well as the challenges the Association faced.

The session opened with a welcome address by the Chair of the Association’s Board of Directors, Ivona Čelebičić, who emphasized that this Assembly is not merely a formal item on the annual calendar but a moment to look back with pride and forward with responsibility. She highlighted that what NARKO-NE represents today is not the result of chance, but of continuity, expertise, genuine dedication, and a constant pursuit of education, learning, and progress.

The Association’s Executive Director, Amir Hasanović, pointed out that significant results were achieved in the past period. Looking ahead, the Association plans to continue and expand its activities, with a particular focus on strengthening cooperation with local communities. One of the development initiatives for 2025 includes launching a professional journal dedicated to the topics of prevention and addiction, as well as a potential name change for the Association in order to reflect the comprehensive scope of its work.

An important point highlighted during the session was the expansion of successful initiatives to other regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as the preventive programs Who Actually Wins and Strong Families.

Volunteers involved in various programs of the Association shared their experiences, emphasizing that the sense of fulfillment from doing something socially beneficial, meeting new people, and building new friendships is a key motivation for volunteering. They noted that the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained through volunteering with the Association would be valuable throughout their lives.

The event concluded with an open discussion and the enjoyment of a delicious refreshment spread. The collective takeaway was clear: prevention is not a luxury but a necessity; not a cost but an investment—and it is a responsibility and obligation shared by all of us, not just one sector.

Ajsela Kučinar