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While the MCC Budapest Summit on the Global Drug Epidemic concluded its main program in the capital, its third day extended across Hungary and the Carpathian Basin through a series of regional events. MCC’s training centers welcomed international speakers and moderators who presented local discussions on the social, political and security dimensions of global drug trends.

In Békéscsaba, Stephen Balogh, Chair of the Social Democratic Party UK, spoke on the perception of drugs within the principles of family, community and nation. The event was moderated by philosopher Iraj Azarfaza, who emphasized the spread of narratives that increasingly downplay drug-related risks.

Debrecen Center welcomed Andrej Protić, Major of the Serbian Police, who explored the psychological and social roots of radicalization in the Balkans, drawing parallels between addiction and extremist ideologies and stressing prevention as the most effective long-term response.

In Győr, René Nehring, Editor-in-Chief of Preußische Allgemeine Zeitung, presented Germany’s experiences with cannabis legalization, outlining its societal and health-related consequences and emphasizing the need for strict regulation and monitoring.

Miskolc Center hosted Alex Berenson, American author and former New York Times reporter, who spoke about the mental health risks associated with cannabis use and addiction, referencing the arguments laid out in his book on marijuana and mental illness.

In Nyíregyháza, Carlton John Brick, sociologist at the University of the West of Scotland, examined how Western societies increasingly normalize addiction and assessed the impact of international “harm reduction” approaches. The session was moderated by Vince Prodán, International Relations Coordinator of MCC.

Pécs Center featured Stuart Derbyshire, Associate Professor of Psychology at the National University of Singapore, who addressed the dangers posed by cheap, easily accessible drugs and the significant role of the state in curbing their spread. He was joined in discussion by Mikolaj Slawkowski-Rode, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Buckingham. 

In Szekszárd, Thomas Wolf, Director of FDPS West Coast Initiatives, detailed the devastating impact of fentanyl in the United States and the emerging risks for Europe, describing the wide-ranging social and public-safety implications of synthetic drugs.

Finally, in Veszprém, Andrea Bianchi, Education Officer at MCC Brussels, presented an overview of global money-laundering mechanisms connected to the drug trade. The conversation was moderated by Bánkuty-Balogh Lilla, Head of Head of the Center for Global Economy at MCC. 

Across all regional centers, the third day of the MCC Budapest Summit highlighted the deepening challenges posed by the global drug epidemic, underlining its interconnected public health, security and community dimensions.