International Advocacy
In 2018, SANA was accorded Special Consultative Status under the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). With this accreditation, SANA participates in and influences international discussions on drug matters that take place at the UN level. SANA is an active member of the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC), including the VNGOC Asia-Pacific Working Group, the World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD), the Asia-Pacific Confederation against Drugs (APCD) and One Voice, One Message (OVOM).
Some of the regular international conferences that SANA contributes to include:
Commission on Narcotic Drugs
The annual sessions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) are organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and provide a platform for the exchange of best practices between global organisations in the field of drug prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration. Organisations gain insight into the global drug situation and work towards tackling the scourge of drugs.
Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs
The Asia-Pacific Forum Against Drugs (APFAD) is a biennial conference that brings together anti-drug practitioners and advocates from local and Asia-Pacific NGOs, community partners, civil society groups and government agencies. Since the inaugural conference in 2015, APFAD has been a strategic platform for the local and regional anti-drug community to discuss best practices in addressing the worrying global trend of illicit drug use and its liberalisation, especially among youth. Since 2025, SANA has taken over the organisation of this Forum.