In the debate, members of the Health and Family Committee, representatives of the non-governmental sector, health experts and other professionals discussed the experiences and results achieved in the field of treatment of traditional addiction diseases and risky behaviours such as the abuse of drugs and narcotics, alcohol, smoking, as well as new forms of addiction appearing more and more often today, namely gambling, the Internet, addiction to aesthetic procedures, nutrition, etc. As emphasised, it is important to establish and develop a system of integrative policies (strategy), programmes and practices that would include all addictions, as well as come up with new approaches to addressing addiction.

Considering its proven success in the global practical application in the fight against drug addiction, some of the experts said that they are in favour of the approach which involves harm reduction in risky behaviours and addictions as a complementary approach to the existing ones in situations where complete abstinence is not an option for some reason.

Health and Family Committee member Dr Nada Macura stressed that it is important to invest in the health of citizens, especially young people, and that is why the fight against all forms of addiction must be continuous, comprehensive and organised.

Minister of Education, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic Dejanovic emphasised the importance of investing in health literacy, which means expanding the knowledge about how to best protect your health, as well as how to recognise the symptoms of the disease and who to turn to.

The president of the Belgrade Health Festival organising committee, Dr Mirjana Micovic, expressed her satisfaction with the constructive discussion and said that the relevant institutions will be informed of the proposals and suggestions voiced there, adding that the Belgrade Health Festival will continue with activities that promote a healthy way of life.

"During these 15 years, we have achieved exceptional cooperation with the most important institutions in the country, which is why we responded to the National Assembly’s call issued to the civil society, to confirm by our example that a benevolent and united, general and professional public can contribute a lot to the general development of society," Micovic concluded.