On 26 June, the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed to raise public awareness about the risks associated with substance use and the importance of prevention, education, and access to treatment.
On this occasion, Fondazione Gianni Benzi reaffirms its commitment to promoting a culture of health, scientific research, and evidence-based information, essential tools for understanding and addressing complex issues such as addiction, substance abuse, and the misuse of medicines.
Today, addiction represents a major health, social, and cultural challenge affecting people of all ages. Alongside substances traditionally associated with addiction, new forms of vulnerability are emerging, driven by the pursuit of enhanced performance, immediate well-being, and the non-therapeutic use of medicines and other substances.
This issue also extends to the world of sport.
The recent case involving race walker Alex Schwazer, who tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in an anti-doping test, has once again drawn attention to one of the best-known and most debated substances in the field of doping. The case highlights the complexity of a phenomenon that encompasses scientific, ethical, and public health dimensions.
EPO is a medicine used in clinical practice to treat certain forms of anaemia. When used without a therapeutic indication, it can stimulate the production of red blood cells, improving the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity and enhancing endurance and athletic performance. However, this illicit advantage comes with significant health risks. Excessive increases in red blood cell levels make the blood more viscous, increasing the likelihood of serious cardiovascular complications, including thrombosis, embolism, stroke, and heart attack.
For the Foundation, doping is far more than a violation of sporting rules. It is fundamentally a public health issue, closely linked to the misuse of medicines and the spread of a performance-driven culture that may encourage individuals to seek shortcuts to improve athletic, academic, or professional achievements.
For this reason, doping must be addressed through education, prevention, and scientifically accurate information, fostering knowledge and awareness, particularly among younger generations.
The Foundation’s commitment is deeply rooted in the work of Professor Gianni Benzi, a pharmacologist and one of Italy’s leading experts on doping. For Professor Benzi, combating the use of performance-enhancing substances meant, above all, protecting athletes’ health, promoting the appropriate use of medicines, and safeguarding the values of sport through research, health education, and scientific communication.
Today, these principles are more relevant than ever. At a time when addiction is taking on increasingly diverse forms and the pressure to perform extends well beyond sport into many aspects of everyday life, education and awareness remain among the most effective tools for prevention.
On the occasion of this international observance, the Foundation invites readers to explore the in-depth resources already published on doping and prevention, with the aim of encouraging broader reflection on the relationship between health, addiction, medicines, and individual and collective responsibility.
In the coming weeks, this educational journey will continue with a new series of FGB Pills, short educational features dedicated to key topics in health, pharmacology, and prevention. Their goal is to make reliable, evidence-based scientific information accessible to everyone.
Knowledge is the first step towards prevention.
Yesterday as today, this principle continues to inspire Fondazione Gianni Benzi’s commitment to promoting a culture of health grounded in knowledge, responsibility, and the strength of scientific research.