Experts who took part in the international forum on 'Drug-free Childhood' here feel that parents have a central role in safeguarding children from drug abuse, as even minor deviations on the part of their children that they tend to ignore could lead to serious consequences.

The three-day conclave, which concluded on Friday, had the theme 'Children Matter - Right to a Drug-free Childhood' was organised by the Fourth Wave Foundation (FWF) in partnership with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and World Federation Against Drugs (WFAD).