Despite repeated warnings and legal punishments, drug addiction continues to spread in Korea, particularly among young adults in their 20s and 30s.

Statistics show that this age group now accounts for nearly 60% of drug-related cases. Director Kim Nami of Sahmyook University’s Addiction Prevention & Recovery Center argues that punishment alone is ineffective.

Instead, she advocates for a connection-centered approach:

- Treating individuals not as criminals but as people who made wrong choices.

- Asking “Where can you go from here?” rather than “Why did you use drugs?”.

- Providing counseling, education, and community support to prevent relapse.

This initiative is jointly advanced with Professor Cho Hyun-Seob and the ICAN Headquarters, who emphasize that prevention education must be strengthened, especially as online access makes drugs easier to obtain.

Together, they are working to build a society where individuals can seek help without stigma and where prevention is the cornerstone of national drug policy.