Tackling addiction and the recruitment of young people by criminal organizations requires going beyond simply helping those who have already been affected. For Emilce Cuda, the task involves rebuilding ties, strengthening a sense of belonging, and paving the way for their reintegration into society.
He explained this in an interview with Vatican News during the international conference titled “A Faith-Based Response to Drugs and the Criminal Recruitment of Young People: A Dialogue from Latin America and the Caribbean to the World,” which is taking place in Rome from August 25 to 27, with the participation of representatives from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Organized by CELAM’s Latin American Pastoral Commission for Addiction Prevention and Support (PLAPA), the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and the OAS’s CICAD, the meeting brings together experiences in prevention and support to strengthen the response to addiction and the criminal recruitment of young people.
Accompanying also means integrating
Quitting substance use is not enough to rebuild a life. It’s also necessary to rebuild relationships and have a place where a person can once again feel welcomed and valued. “What saves people is family,” Cuda insists, noting that those who have lost that support system need to find a community that will welcome them, since they often turn to addiction amid strained family relationships.
For Cuda, rebuilding relationships is not enough; the specialist argues that recovery must be accompanied by concrete opportunities to get back on track with one’s life—from training and learning a trade to gaining access to work. Work, in particular, is not merely an economic tool, but a path to regaining dignity and confidence.
He also emphasized that medical intervention and pastoral care are not opposing approaches, but rather dimensions that can complement one another. It is up to specialists to address addiction from a health perspective, while the Church offers a listening ear, a sense of closeness, and a sense of community.
This perspective underlies the approach presented during the meeting in Rome: reaching out rather than judging, building trust, and consistently supporting those in vulnerable situations.
A response that begins before the fall
A lack of opportunities and support networks can leave children and young people vulnerable to criminal organizations. Where poverty, violence, or exclusion exist, these organizations may present themselves as an alternative and offer what many cannot find in their own communities: a sense of belonging, protection, recognition, and income.
Prevention means acting early—before substance use begins, before recruitment takes place, and before a young person becomes isolated. For this reason, the conference highlights the role of communities that can provide connections, opportunities, and protection from criminal networks.
From this perspective, prevention involves strengthening the support networks surrounding young people. Cuda asserts that supporting those who have already been affected must go hand in hand with creating family and community environments capable of protecting them before they are exposed.
The conclusions will reach Pope Leo XIV
The tour of Rome, which grew out of an initiative that began in Latin America, now aims to serve as a model for other regions. The PLAPA handbook brings together the work of more than 300 people from 18 countries and offers solutions that integrate the spiritual dimension with community, psychological, and social aspects.
The meeting will conclude on August 27 with the presentation of its conclusions to Pope Leo XIV during a private audience. The message from Latin America is clear: prevention and recovery require community. Where there are bonds, support, and opportunities, young people can find alternatives to addictions and criminal networks.
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