Italy and France announce international meeting on addiction prevention and recovery

New Summit to Address Addiction Challenges Across Europe

Poinews.com – Giorgia Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, have jointly declared plans for a major international gathering focused on tackling addiction through prevention and recovery efforts. This initiative builds upon the foundation laid by the European Coalition against Addictions (ECAD), which both nations helped establish on October 2, 2025, during the European Political Community summit.

Since its inception, ECAD has grown to include thirty-five member nations. These countries have pledged to work together against drug trafficking while advancing prevention strategies and recovery support systems. The upcoming summit is scheduled for October 23, 2026, at the renowned San Patrignano recovery community located near Rimini, Italy.

Bringing Together Global Leaders

The event will convene ministers, government officials, and representatives from international organizations. Their primary objective involves exchanging proven methods for prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and helping individuals reintegrate into society. Special attention will be directed toward youth facing addiction challenges.

Alfredo Mantovano, serving as Undersecretary to the Prime Minister’s Office, has been assigned responsibility for coordinating this initiative across multiple ministries. Following the summit’s conclusion, participants will draft and approve a comprehensive document outlining the Coalition’s strategic guidelines and operational commitments for the coming years. This effort aligns with objectives established during ECAD’s second meeting in Yerevan, where member states signed an updated joint declaration.

Meloni and Macron have already dispatched joint invitation letters to forty-seven delegations. These include heads of state and government, coalition partners, and relevant European institutional representatives.

San Patrignano: A Model of Recovery

The selection of San Patrignano as the venue highlights its proven track record. According to the government website promoting the initiative, the choice demonstrates “a leading experience in the recovery and reintegration of people with addictions” within everyday life. This setting exemplifies the policies the Coalition seeks to advance while strengthening responses to addiction challenges that require collective responsibility.

San Patrignano operates as a prominent Italian social cooperative that has welcomed young people struggling with addiction since 1978. The facility provides a complimentary recovery program characterized by rehabilitative and educational components alongside non-pharmacological approaches. Research conducted by the universities of Bologna, Urbino, and Pavia indicates that over seventy-two percent of participants who complete the program achieve full recovery.

Since its establishment, the community has supported more than twenty-six thousand individuals. Each program receives individualized customization and may incorporate psychotherapeutic interventions. The approach centers on two fundamental principles: communal living and vocational training. Consequently, the community presents over twenty distinct specialization areas offering fifty potential training activities.

Presidential Visit and Ongoing Challenges

In June 2026, marking the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Italian President Sergio Mattarella toured the facility, which currently accommodates approximately one thousand residents. During the ceremony, which also featured Undersecretary Mantovano, Mattarella remarked: “The recovery and rediscovery of life and a future for so many young people, made possible by the work carried out by communities, organisations and the many volunteers involved, is a resource that enriches our country.”

Mantovano highlighted persistent concerns regarding youth substance use: “Data from the latest report to parliament remain a cause for concern: one in four young people aged between 15 and 19 say they have used drugs at least once in the past year.”

Emphasizing the dedication of professionals working in the field, Mantovano noted: “Every day, in public services, in therapeutic communities and in scientific societies, tireless women and men sometimes put their own safety at risk to ensure that those who have fallen into addiction can follow the most appropriate recovery path to the very end.”