Youth RISE and Harm Reduction International asked youth researchers from every region of the world to tell us about the situation for young people who use drugs in their countries. Of course, every country – and even each city, town, and age group – reported different issues and patterns of use, there were commonalities. This briefing paper highlights some of the common themes and an approach to addressing them based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A full report is due out later in 2009.