Tehran, Iran – In the busy neighborhoods of Tehran’s District 12, many teenagers face serious challenges with drug use and risky behaviors such as fighting, running away from home or school, self-harm, and dark thoughts about suicide. Thanks to a partnership between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Iran and local experts, a promising new support program led by Dr. Masoumeh Maarefvand and her dedicated team, has shown how caring, team-based help can truly transform young lives. The program, tested in 2025, showed encouraging results. The team worked with 30 teenagers aged 12 to 18, and every one of them received full support from a helpful team of professionals.  From Risk to Real Change: What the Numbers ShowBefore the program started, all the teens were struggling with at least one serious risky behavior. Fighting and aggression, which affected 18 teens (60% of the group) at the start, dropped dramatically. After 45 days, only 3 teens still reported these issues. By 90 days, that number fell to just 2.Drug use showed similar strong progress. It started with 7 teens and went down to 2, then reached zero by the final check. Smoking, alcohol use, running away, self-harm, and thoughts of suicide also improved greatly. In several cases, these problems disappeared completely among the group. Teens who received more regular support sessions saw the biggest positive shifts.Beyond reducing problems, the program helped build better, safer lives. More teenagers returned to or stayed in school. They moved away from friends who encouraged risky choices and formed positive connections with trusted adults. Many started regular sports or activities, which gave them healthy ways to spend their time and energy. Families became more stable, and situations involving violence at home got better for many.The support worked because it touched every part of the teens’ daily lives — not just one-on-one talks, but real help with family relationships, school, friends, work, and community connections. A caring team including social workers, psychologists, and doctors worked together to coordinate everything. They visited homes, schools, and neighborhoods when needed and connected families to useful local services. How the Program Made It HappenThe team focused on practical steps that fit real Iranian life. They listened carefully to each teen and family, created personalized plans, and followed up regularly. Support included building life skills, helping with school or job goals, encouraging healthy hobbies, and strengthening family bonds. The program made good use of existing community resources instead of creating everything from scratch.People involved shared positive feedback. Team members explained that keeping each helper’s workload to about 10-12 teens allowed them to give high-quality attention. At first, some cases needed several hours a week, but as things improved, the support became lighter and more sustainable. Teens and parents said they finally felt truly heard and supported in meaningful ways.Simple but powerful lessons came out of the work: Quick individual advice alone often isn’t enough for teens facing many layered difficulties at home, school, and with friends. Real, lasting change happens when families and communities get actively involved too. The project showed that addressing the full picture around a young person creates stronger, longer-lasting results. UNODC Iran’s Role in Creating Lasting ImpactThis successful project highlights UNODC Iran’s ongoing commitment to practical, effective ways to prevent drug problems and support young people. By helping develop and test this approach the office helps create solutions that fit Iran’s context while drawing on global experience.The results offer clear, actionable hope for scaling up. Training more teams, using local services wisely, focusing on teens who need it most, and keeping track of progress over time can help many more young people. While challenges like coordinating between different organizations exist, the positive outcomes far outweigh them. The program not only lowered immediate risks but also created stronger support networks that can protect teens for years to come.Across Iran and the wider region, youth face ongoing risks from substance use and dangerous behaviors. This UNODC-supported effort provides a proven, hopeful way forward. It moves from simply reacting to problems toward building comprehensive support that empowers teens, strengthens families, and engages entire communities.This activity was made possible through the funding received from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.