The Association for Addiction Prevention NARKO-NE was founded in 2002 under the patronage of HKO Kruh svetog Ante and operates in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of universal and selective addiction prevention. Its vision is a healthy society in which children and young people successfully cope with the challenges of growing up and actively involve and contribute to the development of the quality of life in communities.
Through direct work, NARKO-NE empowers children and youth and strengthens their protective factors, while simultaneously strengthening the capacities of professionals who work with them. Although grassroots, i.e. direct work with children and youth, has been the focus of NARKO-NE, efforts towards a systematic and strategic approach to addiction prevention began from the very beginning of its activities. Over the years, NARKO-NE has progressed from short-term projects to structured long-term programs that are evidence-based.

The Association’s work is based on an etiological model that describes the micro- and macro-environments that affect all people and make them more or less exposed to the risk of using addictive substances and other risky behaviors. The Micro setting includes the areas of work: Family, School, Workplace, and the Macro setting includes the areas of work: Local Community, Environment and Media.

Within each environment, evidence-based interventions are developed that balance between global scientific trends in addiction prevention and specific needs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Preventive interventions aim to reduce of risk factors while increasing protective factors, thereby influencing the achievement of developmental goals and the interaction of the individual with the given environment.

NARKO-NE is also an accredited association for international volunteerism, offering young people the opportunity to volunteer and participate in youth exchanges abroad with continuous mentoring support.

NARKO-NE is continuously working on the professionalization of addiction prevention in Bosnia and Herzegovina in collaboration with numerous actors from the governmental and non-governmental sector and is working on establishing the first expert center for addiction prevention in Bosnia and Herzegovina.