Students for Sensible Drug Policy International

24/08/2026

Progress Towards Stronger To***co Control in South Africa

SSDP International welcomes the continued progression of the To***co Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which advanced to clause by clause deliberations in Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health on 12 August 2026.

This marks an important milestone in South Africa’s efforts to strengthen and modernise the regulation of to***co, electronic delivery systems and emerging ni****ne products.

As an organisation committed to public health, evidence based policy and the protection of young people, SSDP International recognises the importance of ensuring that legislation keeps pace with an evolving to***co and ni****ne landscape.

We welcome the continued parliamentary engagement around the Bill and look forward to seeing the legislative process progress in a transparent, inclusive and evidence informed manner.

Read Parliament’s full update here:
https://www.parliament.gov.za/press-releases/media-statement-health-committee-welcomes-broad-consensus-to***co-products-and-electronic-delivery-systems-control-bill


***cocontrol

***coBill

Parliament, Wednesday, 12 August 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Health today officially began clause-by-clause deliberations on the To***co Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill.The committee Chairperson, Ms Faith Muthambi, was satisfied with the successful deliberations on the ...

19/08/2026

YOUTH LED TO***CO CONTROL & ANTI VA**NG ADVOCACY DIALOGUE

Young people have an important role to play in shaping healthier communities and making informed choices about to***co and va**ng.

Join the Wits Social Science Council, supported by SSDP International and Y-ACT, for an open and engaging dialogue exploring the realities of to***co use, awareness, prevention and youth led advocacy.

21 August 2026
17:00
Solomon Mahlangu House, Basement 1 – SHB1, Wits University
Speaker: Fadzai Matanhire

Come be part of the conversation, ask questions, share perspectives and help strengthen youth voices in to***co control and anti va**ng advocacy.

03/08/2026

July was a quieter but meaningful month for SSDP International, with activities focused on youth to***co awareness and organisational development.

On 16 July 2026, SSDP International hosted an online forum titled.

“The Myth of ‘Safer Alternatives’: Industry Research, Harm Reduction and Youth Targeting.”

Moderated by Thabang Seheri from the National Youth Development Agency, the discussion featured Dr Thomas van Huyssteen from the To***co Control Data Initiative South Africa. The session explored industry funded research, misinformation and how va**ng and ni****ne products are marketed to young people as “safer alternatives.”

The discussion also highlighted the influence of social media, flavours, influencer culture on young people’s perceptions of va**ng and ni****ne products.

SSDP International participated in an AMREF ODSS capacity strengthening training focused on mentorship and coaching.

The training provided practical skills to strengthen support for coalition partners and covered risk management, organisational sustainability and exit planning. Through the ODSS programme, Amref Health Africa is strengthening SSDP International’s systems, governance and ability to deliver sustainable and impactful programmes.

Become part of the VUSUBUNTU Coalition and help advance an inclusive, coordinated and evidence based approach to drug policy reform.
Register here: https://forms.gle/NzjHtkJZxbgjdjDU6

16/07/2026

Join SSDP International tonight.

Youth-Centred To***co Control Forum.
The Myth of “Safer Alternatives”

16 July 2026
18:00
Zoom

Speaker: Dr Thomas van Huyssteen
Moderator: Thabang Seheri

Register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uIXsJBnYQDa5bt-r3leWwA⁠


***coControl

The Myth of "Safer Alternatives"

Are va**ng products really safer, or are young people being sold a carefully crafted narrative? From influencer marketing and colourful flavours to industry funded research and social media campaigns, to***co and ni****ne companies continue to find new ways to appeal to the next generation.

Join Students for Sensible Drug Policy International for the first session of our Youth Centred To***co Control Forum Series, where we unpack the evidence behind the claims and explore how industry messaging shapes youth perceptions.

Speaker: Dr Thomas van Huyssteen
To***co Control Data Initiative South Africa

Moderator: Thabang Seheri
National Youth Development Agency

16 July 2026
18:00 (SAST)
Online via Zoom : https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uIXsJBnYQDa5bt-r3leWwA

Whether you're a young leader, student, health advocate, educator, researcher or simply interested in to***co control, this discussion will provide evidence based insights into one of the most important public health conversations affecting young people today.

Register by scanning the QR code on the poster and be part of the conversation.

Evidence. Awareness. Action.


***cocontrol

14/07/2026

Join us for our Youth Centred To***co Control Forum on 16 July 2026
18:00 (SAST)
Online via Zoom.

We’ll be unpacking The Myth of “Safer Alternatives” and exploring how industry research, misinformation, flavours, social media are used to target young people.

Scan the QR code or register below and be part of the conversation.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uIXsJBnYQDa5bt-r3leWwA


***cocontrol

The Myth of "Safer Alternatives"

Are va**ng products really safer, or are young people being sold a carefully crafted narrative? From influencer marketing and colourful flavours to industry funded research and social media campaigns, to***co and ni****ne companies continue to find new ways to appeal to the next generation.

Join Students for Sensible Drug Policy International for the first session of our Youth Centred To***co Control Forum Series, where we unpack the evidence behind the claims and explore how industry messaging shapes youth perceptions.

Speaker: Dr Thomas van Huyssteen
To***co Control Data Initiative South Africa

Moderator: Thabang Seheri
National Youth Development Agency

16 July 2026
18:00 (SAST)
Online via Zoom : https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uIXsJBnYQDa5bt-r3leWwA

Whether you're a young leader, student, health advocate, educator, researcher or simply interested in to***co control, this discussion will provide evidence based insights into one of the most important public health conversations affecting young people today.

Register by scanning the QR code on the poster and be part of the conversation.

Evidence. Awareness. Action.


***cocontrol

09/07/2026

The Myth of "Safer Alternatives"

Are va**ng products really safer, or are young people being sold a carefully crafted narrative? From influencer marketing and colourful flavours to industry funded research and social media campaigns, to***co and ni****ne companies continue to find new ways to appeal to the next generation.

Join Students for Sensible Drug Policy International for the first session of our Youth Centred To***co Control Forum Series, where we unpack the evidence behind the claims and explore how industry messaging shapes youth perceptions.

Speaker: Dr Thomas van Huyssteen
To***co Control Data Initiative South Africa

Moderator: Thabang Seheri
National Youth Development Agency

16 July 2026
18:00 (SAST)
Online via Zoom : https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uIXsJBnYQDa5bt-r3leWwA

Whether you're a young leader, student, health advocate, educator, researcher or simply interested in to***co control, this discussion will provide evidence based insights into one of the most important public health conversations affecting young people today.

Register by scanning the QR code on the poster and be part of the conversation.

Evidence. Awareness. Action.


***cocontrol

09/07/2026

A proud moment for SSDP International

Students for Sensible Drug Policy International is proud to congratulate our Executive Director, Charity Monareng, on her selection as Chair of the New York NGO Committee on Drugs (NYNGOC).

This is a significant achievement, not only for Charity and SSDP, but for youth led civil society, African leadership and the broader movement working towards evidence based, human rights centred drug policy reform.

The New York NGO Committee on Drugs plays an important role in strengthening civil society engagement with the United Nations system, creating space for dialogue, collaboration and action on global drug policy issues.

Charity’s leadership continues to reflect the values at the heart of SSDP International, youth participation, public health, human rights, harm reduction and meaningful civil society engagement.

We are incredibly proud to see South African and Global South leadership represented in this important international space.

Congratulations, Charity Monareng. Your leadership continues to inspire young advocates across the world.

https://ngocongo.org/ngo-committees-in-new-york/

01/07/2026

June at Students for Sensible Drug Policy International.
Empowering Youth. Strengthening Advocacy.

June was a month of collaboration, learning and action as we continued working alongside partners to advance youth led advocacy for healthier and safer communities.

Throughout the month we:

We Continued our World No To***co Day campaign, extending its reach through digital platforms while also participating in a radio interview with Alex FM to raise awareness about the harms of to***co use and the tactics the to***co industry uses to target young people.

We Participated in a Youth Advocacy Training in Soweto during Youth Month, where young people strengthened their advocacy skills, explored community driven solutions, and developed campaigns promoting health, awareness and positive social change.

We Strengthened our organisational sustainability through the AMREF Organisational Development Support Services (ODSS) Resource Mobilisation Training, building our capacity to develop partnerships, mobilise resources and increase the long-term impact of our programmes.

We Joined civil society organisations, community leaders, researchers, legal experts and networks of people who use drugs in launching the VUSUBUNTU Coalition on the Support. Don't Punish Global Day of Action. As a coalition member, SSDP International is proud to contribute to advancing evidence informed, public health and human rights centred approaches to drug policy, while amplifying youth voices in shaping more compassionate and effective responses to drug use.

June demonstrated the power of partnerships in driving sustainable change. Whether through to***co control, youth leadership, organisational development or drug policy reform, we remain committed to empowering young people with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to influence policies that shape healthier and more inclusive communities.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our partners, supporters and young advocates who continue to make this work possible. Together, we are building a future where public health, evidence and human rights remain at the centre of decision making.




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26/06/2026

Today, on International Support. Don't Punish Day, we were proud to stand alongside partners from across South Africa to officially launch the Vusubuntu Coalition.

As a member of the Vusubuntu Coalition's Steering Committee, Students for Sensible Drug Policy International had the honour of serving as programme director for this important milestone.

The launch marks the beginning of a collective effort to advance evidence informed, human rights based drug policy reform in South Africa. Together, we are building a broad coalition of people who use drugs, civil society, government partners, legal experts, public health practitioners, faith leaders and advocates committed to replacing punishment with health, dignity and justice.

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us, our inspiring speakers, coalition partners, and all those working tirelessly to make this vision a reality.

16/06/2026

On the 14–15 June 2026, Students for Sensible Drug Policy International proudly facilitated a Youth Advocacy Training with The True Cost of Alcohol - By SAAPA, bringing together young people to strengthen their knowledge, skills, and confidence in developing impactful awareness campaigns addressing the harms associated with alcohol and other substances in our communities.

The training created a space for youth voices to lead the conversation, explore community-based solutions, and develop advocacy campaigns rooted in education, awareness raising and positive social change.

As we commemorate Youth Month and Youth Day today, we recognise that informed and empowered young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are the changemakers of today.