diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-cpp.yml b/.github/workflows/validate-cpp.yml
index 504ce126dc25..dd8641e66b43 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/validate-cpp.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate-cpp.yml
@@ -46,3 +46,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run cpplint
         run: |
           scripts/cpplint.sh
+
+      - name: Disallow DEBUG macros
+        run: |
+          ! egrep -r '(#if DEBUG|#ifdef DEBUG)' Common/cpp apple android/src/main/cpp
diff --git a/Common/cpp/LayoutAnimations/LayoutAnimationsManager.cpp b/Common/cpp/LayoutAnimations/LayoutAnimationsManager.cpp
index 7d0e0ee17fa8..b3d536b38162 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/LayoutAnimations/LayoutAnimationsManager.cpp
+++ b/Common/cpp/LayoutAnimations/LayoutAnimationsManager.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include "CollectionUtils.h"
 #include "Shareables.h"
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 #include <utility>
 #include "JSLogger.h"
 #endif
@@ -59,11 +59,11 @@ void LayoutAnimationsManager::clearLayoutAnimationConfig(int tag) {
   exitingAnimations_.erase(tag);
   layoutAnimations_.erase(tag);
   shouldAnimateExitingForTag_.erase(tag);
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   const auto &pair = viewsScreenSharedTagMap_[tag];
   screenSharedTagSet_.erase(pair);
   viewsScreenSharedTagMap_.erase(tag);
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
   sharedTransitionAnimations_.erase(tag);
   auto const &groupName = viewTagToSharedTag_[tag];
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ int LayoutAnimationsManager::findPrecedingViewTagForTransition(int tag) {
   return -1;
 }
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 std::string LayoutAnimationsManager::getScreenSharedTagPairString(
     const int screenTag,
     const std::string &sharedTag) const {
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ void LayoutAnimationsManager::checkDuplicateSharedTag(
   viewsScreenSharedTagMap_[viewTag] = pair;
   screenSharedTagSet_.insert(pair);
 }
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
 std::unordered_map<int, std::shared_ptr<Shareable>>
     &LayoutAnimationsManager::getConfigsForType(LayoutAnimationType type) {
diff --git a/Common/cpp/LayoutAnimations/LayoutAnimationsManager.h b/Common/cpp/LayoutAnimations/LayoutAnimationsManager.h
index b13440a77025..acfbcaabb1bc 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/LayoutAnimations/LayoutAnimationsManager.h
+++ b/Common/cpp/LayoutAnimations/LayoutAnimationsManager.h
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include "LayoutAnimationType.h"
 #include "Shareables.h"
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 #include "JSLogger.h"
 #endif
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ using namespace facebook;
 
 class LayoutAnimationsManager {
  public:
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   explicit LayoutAnimationsManager(const std::shared_ptr<JSLogger> &jsLogger)
       : jsLogger_(jsLogger) {}
 #endif
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class LayoutAnimationsManager {
   void clearLayoutAnimationConfig(int tag);
   void cancelLayoutAnimation(jsi::Runtime &rt, int tag);
   int findPrecedingViewTagForTransition(int tag);
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   std::string getScreenSharedTagPairString(
       const int screenTag,
       const std::string &sharedTag) const;
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class LayoutAnimationsManager {
   std::unordered_map<int, std::shared_ptr<Shareable>> &getConfigsForType(
       LayoutAnimationType type);
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   std::shared_ptr<JSLogger> jsLogger_;
   // This set's function is to detect duplicate sharedTags on a single screen
   // it contains strings in form: "reactScreenTag:sharedTag"
diff --git a/Common/cpp/NativeModules/NativeReanimatedModule.cpp b/Common/cpp/NativeModules/NativeReanimatedModule.cpp
index 396b657dafab..dd83446eaca5 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/NativeModules/NativeReanimatedModule.cpp
+++ b/Common/cpp/NativeModules/NativeReanimatedModule.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 #include <fbjni/fbjni.h>
 #endif
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 #include "JSLogger.h"
 #endif
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ NativeReanimatedModule::NativeReanimatedModule(
         onRender(timestampMs);
       }),
       animatedSensorModule_(platformDepMethodsHolder),
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
       layoutAnimationsManager_(std::make_shared<JSLogger>(jsScheduler_)),
 #endif
 #ifdef RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABLED
diff --git a/Common/cpp/NativeModules/NativeReanimatedModule.h b/Common/cpp/NativeModules/NativeReanimatedModule.h
index 67ef933df84d..17b2adafab20 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/NativeModules/NativeReanimatedModule.h
+++ b/Common/cpp/NativeModules/NativeReanimatedModule.h
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class NativeReanimatedModule : public NativeReanimatedModuleSpec {
   const KeyboardEventSubscribeFunction subscribeForKeyboardEventsFunction_;
   const KeyboardEventUnsubscribeFunction unsubscribeFromKeyboardEventsFunction_;
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   SingleInstanceChecker<NativeReanimatedModule> singleInstanceChecker_;
 #endif
 };
diff --git a/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/RNRuntimeDecorator.cpp b/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/RNRuntimeDecorator.cpp
index c1e03b3afd8b..d2d2b0e86c7e 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/RNRuntimeDecorator.cpp
+++ b/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/RNRuntimeDecorator.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #include "RNRuntimeDecorator.h"
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 #include "ReanimatedVersion.h"
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
 namespace reanimated {
 
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ void RNRuntimeDecorator::decorate(
 #endif // RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABLED
   rnRuntime.global().setProperty(rnRuntime, "_IS_FABRIC", isFabric);
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   checkJSVersion(rnRuntime);
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
   rnRuntime.global().setProperty(
       rnRuntime, "_REANIMATED_IS_REDUCED_MOTION", isReducedMotion);
diff --git a/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/ReanimatedHermesRuntime.cpp b/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/ReanimatedHermesRuntime.cpp
index de55bacf841d..f02aadad6c24 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/ReanimatedHermesRuntime.cpp
+++ b/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/ReanimatedHermesRuntime.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ ReanimatedHermesRuntime::ReanimatedHermesRuntime(
   jsQueue->quitSynchronous();
 #endif // HERMES_ENABLE_DEBUGGER
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   facebook::hermes::HermesRuntime *wrappedRuntime = runtime_.get();
   jsi::Value evalWithSourceMap = jsi::Function::createFromHostFunction(
       *runtime_,
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ ReanimatedHermesRuntime::ReanimatedHermesRuntime(
       });
   runtime_->global().setProperty(
       *runtime_, "evalWithSourceMap", evalWithSourceMap);
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 }
 
 ReanimatedHermesRuntime::~ReanimatedHermesRuntime() {
diff --git a/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/WorkletRuntimeDecorator.cpp b/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/WorkletRuntimeDecorator.cpp
index 79d8e2e30a7d..751039c1f24b 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/WorkletRuntimeDecorator.cpp
+++ b/Common/cpp/ReanimatedRuntime/WorkletRuntimeDecorator.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ void WorkletRuntimeDecorator::decorate(
 #endif // RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABLED
   rt.global().setProperty(rt, "_IS_FABRIC", isFabric);
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   auto evalWithSourceUrl = [](jsi::Runtime &rt,
                               const jsi::Value &thisValue,
                               const jsi::Value *args,
diff --git a/Common/cpp/SharedItems/Shareables.cpp b/Common/cpp/SharedItems/Shareables.cpp
index 46dae5b6b0be..a2d28072e1c2 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/SharedItems/Shareables.cpp
+++ b/Common/cpp/SharedItems/Shareables.cpp
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ jsi::Function getValueUnpacker(jsi::Runtime &rt) {
   return valueUnpacker.asObject(rt).asFunction(rt);
 }
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 
 static const auto callGuardLambda = [](facebook::jsi::Runtime &rt,
                                        const facebook::jsi::Value &thisVal,
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ jsi::Function getCallGuard(jsi::Runtime &rt) {
       rt, jsi::PropNameID::forAscii(rt, "callGuard"), 1, callGuardLambda);
 }
 
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
 jsi::Value makeShareableClone(
     jsi::Runtime &rt,
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ jsi::Value ShareableRemoteFunction::toJSValue(jsi::Runtime &rt) {
   if (&rt == runtime_) {
     return jsi::Value(rt, *function_);
   } else {
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
     return getValueUnpacker(rt).call(
         rt,
         ShareableJSRef::newHostObject(rt, shared_from_this()),
diff --git a/Common/cpp/SharedItems/Shareables.h b/Common/cpp/SharedItems/Shareables.h
index 719451436a37..0f6f0ab903c6 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/SharedItems/Shareables.h
+++ b/Common/cpp/SharedItems/Shareables.h
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ namespace reanimated {
 
 jsi::Function getValueUnpacker(jsi::Runtime &rt);
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 jsi::Function getCallGuard(jsi::Runtime &rt);
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
 // If possible, please use `WorkletRuntime::runGuarded` instead.
 template <typename... Args>
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ inline void runOnRuntimeGuarded(
   // function directly. CallGuard provides a way of capturing exceptions in
   // JavaScript and propagating them to the main React Native thread such that
   // they can be presented using RN's LogBox.
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   getCallGuard(rt).call(rt, function, args...);
 #else
   function.asObject(rt).asFunction(rt).call(rt, args...);
diff --git a/Common/cpp/Tools/JSLogger.cpp b/Common/cpp/Tools/JSLogger.cpp
index 3d173f2b8072..3c9d923eb2ba 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/Tools/JSLogger.cpp
+++ b/Common/cpp/Tools/JSLogger.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 
 #include "JSLogger.h"
 #include <memory>
@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@ void JSLogger::warnOnJS(const std::string &warning) const {
 
 } // namespace reanimated
 
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
diff --git a/Common/cpp/Tools/JSLogger.h b/Common/cpp/Tools/JSLogger.h
index d88560c98d5b..aab9b8d58ca5 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/Tools/JSLogger.h
+++ b/Common/cpp/Tools/JSLogger.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 
 #pragma once
 
@@ -21,4 +21,4 @@ class JSLogger {
 
 } // namespace reanimated
 
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
diff --git a/Common/cpp/Tools/ReanimatedVersion.cpp b/Common/cpp/Tools/ReanimatedVersion.cpp
index b7bab62493ea..b0f5a6f83acc 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/Tools/ReanimatedVersion.cpp
+++ b/Common/cpp/Tools/ReanimatedVersion.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ std::string getReanimatedCppVersion() {
 
 // This function is pretty much a copy of
 // `src/reanimated2/platform-specific/checkVersion.ts`.
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 bool matchVersion(const std::string &version1, const std::string &version2) {
   std::regex pattern("^\\d+\\.\\d+\\.\\d+$");
   if (std::regex_match(version1, pattern) &&
@@ -68,6 +68,6 @@ void checkJSVersion(jsi::Runtime &rnRuntime) {
       "_REANIMATED_VERSION_CPP",
       jsi::String::createFromUtf8(rnRuntime, cppVersion));
 }
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
 }; // namespace reanimated
diff --git a/Common/cpp/Tools/ReanimatedVersion.h b/Common/cpp/Tools/ReanimatedVersion.h
index 5953ccca9151..b4f4092e0c63 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/Tools/ReanimatedVersion.h
+++ b/Common/cpp/Tools/ReanimatedVersion.h
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ namespace reanimated {
 
 std::string getReanimatedCppVersion();
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 bool matchVersion(const std::string &, const std::string &);
 void checkJSVersion(jsi::Runtime &);
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
 }; // namespace reanimated
diff --git a/Common/cpp/Tools/SingleInstanceChecker.h b/Common/cpp/Tools/SingleInstanceChecker.h
index 672c061358e1..7474a6764f1c 100644
--- a/Common/cpp/Tools/SingleInstanceChecker.h
+++ b/Common/cpp/Tools/SingleInstanceChecker.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 
 #include <cxxabi.h>
 
@@ -67,4 +67,4 @@ SingleInstanceChecker<T>::~SingleInstanceChecker() {
 
 } // namespace reanimated
 
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
diff --git a/Example/ios/ReanimatedExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/Example/ios/ReanimatedExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index 112da7dfdf66..0f0b5bbb9a89 100644
--- a/Example/ios/ReanimatedExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/Example/ios/ReanimatedExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -488,7 +488,6 @@
 			buildSettings = {
 				BUNDLE_LOADER = "$(TEST_HOST)";
 				GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = (
-					"DEBUG=1",
 					"$(inherited)",
 				);
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = ReanimatedExampleTests/Info.plist;
@@ -624,7 +623,6 @@
 				GCC_NO_COMMON_BLOCKS = YES;
 				GCC_OPTIMIZATION_LEVEL = 0;
 				GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = (
-					"DEBUG=1",
 					"$(inherited)",
 				);
 				GCC_SYMBOLS_PRIVATE_EXTERN = NO;
diff --git a/Example/ios/ReanimatedExample/AppDelegate.mm b/Example/ios/ReanimatedExample/AppDelegate.mm
index 9aad30f56146..d573152564b7 100644
--- a/Example/ios/ReanimatedExample/AppDelegate.mm
+++ b/Example/ios/ReanimatedExample/AppDelegate.mm
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ - (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(
 
 - (NSURL *)sourceURLForBridge:(RCTBridge *)bridge
 {
-#if DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   return [[RCTBundleURLProvider sharedSettings] jsBundleURLForBundleRoot:@"index"];
 #else
   return [[NSBundle mainBundle] URLForResource:@"main" withExtension:@"jsbundle"];
diff --git a/Example/ios/ReanimatedExampleTests/ReanimatedExampleTests.m b/Example/ios/ReanimatedExampleTests/ReanimatedExampleTests.m
index 7aa4f2a53335..35a90c231c1e 100644
--- a/Example/ios/ReanimatedExampleTests/ReanimatedExampleTests.m
+++ b/Example/ios/ReanimatedExampleTests/ReanimatedExampleTests.m
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ - (void)testRendersWelcomeScreen
   BOOL foundElement = NO;
 
   __block NSString *redboxError = nil;
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   RCTSetLogFunction(
       ^(RCTLogLevel level, RCTLogSource source, NSString *fileName, NSNumber *lineNumber, NSString *message) {
         if (level >= RCTLogLevelError) {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ - (void)testRendersWelcomeScreen
                                   }];
   }
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   RCTSetLogFunction(RCTDefaultLogFunction);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/FabricExample/ios/FabricExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/FabricExample/ios/FabricExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index c3dba7f05e35..404ac4aca6eb 100644
--- a/FabricExample/ios/FabricExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/FabricExample/ios/FabricExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -483,7 +483,6 @@
 			buildSettings = {
 				BUNDLE_LOADER = "$(TEST_HOST)";
 				GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = (
-					"DEBUG=1",
 					"$(inherited)",
 				);
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = FabricExampleTests/Info.plist;
@@ -619,7 +618,6 @@
 				GCC_NO_COMMON_BLOCKS = YES;
 				GCC_OPTIMIZATION_LEVEL = 0;
 				GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = (
-					"DEBUG=1",
 					"$(inherited)",
 				);
 				GCC_SYMBOLS_PRIVATE_EXTERN = NO;
diff --git a/FabricExample/ios/FabricExample/AppDelegate.mm b/FabricExample/ios/FabricExample/AppDelegate.mm
index 7cfe873e105f..edf5cf12ed61 100644
--- a/FabricExample/ios/FabricExample/AppDelegate.mm
+++ b/FabricExample/ios/FabricExample/AppDelegate.mm
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ - (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(
 
 - (NSURL *)sourceURLForBridge:(RCTBridge *)bridge
 {
-#if DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   return [[RCTBundleURLProvider sharedSettings] jsBundleURLForBundleRoot:@"index"];
 #else
   return [[NSBundle mainBundle] URLForResource:@"main" withExtension:@"jsbundle"];
diff --git a/FabricExample/ios/FabricExampleTests/FabricExampleTests.m b/FabricExample/ios/FabricExampleTests/FabricExampleTests.m
index f023368a4e70..33e5c1ec7580 100644
--- a/FabricExample/ios/FabricExampleTests/FabricExampleTests.m
+++ b/FabricExample/ios/FabricExampleTests/FabricExampleTests.m
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ - (void)testRendersWelcomeScreen
   BOOL foundElement = NO;
 
   __block NSString *redboxError = nil;
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   RCTSetLogFunction(
       ^(RCTLogLevel level, RCTLogSource source, NSString *fileName, NSNumber *lineNumber, NSString *message) {
         if (level >= RCTLogLevelError) {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ - (void)testRendersWelcomeScreen
                                   }];
   }
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   RCTSetLogFunction(RCTDefaultLogFunction);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index 0a624531147e..18bab0fbf201 100644
--- a/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -434,7 +434,6 @@
 			buildSettings = {
 				BUNDLE_LOADER = "$(TEST_HOST)";
 				GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = (
-					"DEBUG=1",
 					"$(inherited)",
 				);
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = MacOSExampleTests/Info.plist;
@@ -570,7 +569,6 @@
 				GCC_NO_COMMON_BLOCKS = YES;
 				GCC_OPTIMIZATION_LEVEL = 0;
 				GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = (
-					"DEBUG=1",
 					"$(inherited)",
 				);
 				GCC_SYMBOLS_PRIVATE_EXTERN = NO;
diff --git a/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExample/AppDelegate.mm b/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExample/AppDelegate.mm
index 087182219cc8..3b50a45bf562 100644
--- a/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExample/AppDelegate.mm
+++ b/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExample/AppDelegate.mm
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ - (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(
 
 - (NSURL *)sourceURLForBridge:(RCTBridge *)bridge
 {
-#if DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   return [[RCTBundleURLProvider sharedSettings] jsBundleURLForBundleRoot:@"index"];
 #else
   return [[NSBundle mainBundle] URLForResource:@"main" withExtension:@"jsbundle"];
diff --git a/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExampleTests/MacOSExampleTests.m b/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExampleTests/MacOSExampleTests.m
index 3abc5509c5d8..4d0f2fa1a7e2 100644
--- a/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExampleTests/MacOSExampleTests.m
+++ b/MacOSExample/ios/MacOSExampleTests/MacOSExampleTests.m
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ - (void)testRendersWelcomeScreen
   BOOL foundElement = NO;
 
   __block NSString *redboxError = nil;
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   RCTSetLogFunction(
       ^(RCTLogLevel level, RCTLogSource source, NSString *fileName, NSNumber *lineNumber, NSString *message) {
         if (level >= RCTLogLevelError) {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ - (void)testRendersWelcomeScreen
                                   }];
   }
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   RCTSetLogFunction(RCTDefaultLogFunction);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/MacOSExample/macos/MacOSExample-macOS/AppDelegate.mm b/MacOSExample/macos/MacOSExample-macOS/AppDelegate.mm
index 1f66841abf05..b7bb2660ddf4 100644
--- a/MacOSExample/macos/MacOSExample-macOS/AppDelegate.mm
+++ b/MacOSExample/macos/MacOSExample-macOS/AppDelegate.mm
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ - (void)applicationDidFinishLaunching:(NSNotification *)notification
 
 - (NSURL *)sourceURLForBridge:(RCTBridge *)bridge
 {
-#if DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   return [[RCTBundleURLProvider sharedSettings] jsBundleURLForBundleRoot:@"index"];
 #else
   return [[NSBundle mainBundle] URLForResource:@"main" withExtension:@"jsbundle"];
diff --git a/MacOSExample/macos/MacOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/MacOSExample/macos/MacOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index 90c0b980e4ec..73c50fe3e5f1 100644
--- a/MacOSExample/macos/MacOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/MacOSExample/macos/MacOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -474,7 +474,6 @@
 				GCC_NO_COMMON_BLOCKS = YES;
 				GCC_OPTIMIZATION_LEVEL = 0;
 				GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = (
-					"DEBUG=1",
 					"$(inherited)",
 				);
 				GCC_SYMBOLS_PRIVATE_EXTERN = NO;
diff --git a/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index a7200b1bb072..bc37ec70d512 100644
--- a/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExample.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -681,7 +681,6 @@
 			buildSettings = {
 				BUNDLE_LOADER = "$(TEST_HOST)";
 				GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = (
-					"DEBUG=1",
 					"$(inherited)",
 				);
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = TVOSExampleTests/Info.plist;
@@ -916,7 +915,6 @@
 				GCC_NO_COMMON_BLOCKS = YES;
 				GCC_OPTIMIZATION_LEVEL = 0;
 				GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = (
-					"DEBUG=1",
 					"$(inherited)",
 				);
 				GCC_SYMBOLS_PRIVATE_EXTERN = NO;
diff --git a/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExample/AppDelegate.mm b/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExample/AppDelegate.mm
index 9ec85147bec6..4bb7bc2e63d8 100644
--- a/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExample/AppDelegate.mm
+++ b/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExample/AppDelegate.mm
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ - (NSDictionary *)prepareInitialProps
 
 - (NSURL *)sourceURLForBridge:(RCTBridge *)bridge
 {
-#if DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   return [[RCTBundleURLProvider sharedSettings] jsBundleURLForBundleRoot:@"index"];
 #else
   return [[NSBundle mainBundle] URLForResource:@"main" withExtension:@"jsbundle"];
diff --git a/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExampleTests/TVOSExampleTests.m b/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExampleTests/TVOSExampleTests.m
index 5a2466ad5d21..2774895c0a10 100644
--- a/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExampleTests/TVOSExampleTests.m
+++ b/TVOSExample/ios/TVOSExampleTests/TVOSExampleTests.m
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ - (void)testRendersWelcomeScreen
   BOOL foundElement = NO;
 
   __block NSString *redboxError = nil;
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   RCTSetLogFunction(
       ^(RCTLogLevel level, RCTLogSource source, NSString *fileName, NSNumber *lineNumber, NSString *message) {
         if (level >= RCTLogLevelError) {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ - (void)testRendersWelcomeScreen
                                   }];
   }
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   RCTSetLogFunction(RCTDefaultLogFunction);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/android/CMakeLists.txt b/android/CMakeLists.txt
index ce92879fb560..8526cefcee9d 100644
--- a/android/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/android/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -26,9 +26,7 @@ if(${IS_REANIMATED_EXAMPLE_APP})
     string(APPEND CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS " -DIS_REANIMATED_EXAMPLE_APP")
 endif()
 
-if(${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} MATCHES "Debug")
-    string(APPEND CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS " -DDEBUG")
-else()
+if(NOT ${CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE} MATCHES "Debug")
     string(APPEND CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS " -DNDEBUG")
 endif()
 
diff --git a/android/src/main/cpp/LayoutAnimations.cpp b/android/src/main/cpp/LayoutAnimations.cpp
index 02e6bb760090..acd19f8a3849 100644
--- a/android/src/main/cpp/LayoutAnimations.cpp
+++ b/android/src/main/cpp/LayoutAnimations.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ void LayoutAnimations::setShouldAnimateExitingBlock(
   this->shouldAnimateExitingBlock_ = shouldAnimateExitingBlock;
 }
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 void LayoutAnimations::setCheckDuplicateSharedTag(
     CheckDuplicateSharedTag checkDuplicateSharedTag) {
   checkDuplicateSharedTag_ = checkDuplicateSharedTag;
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ void LayoutAnimations::registerNatives() {
       makeNativeMethod(
           "findPrecedingViewTagForTransition",
           LayoutAnimations::findPrecedingViewTagForTransition),
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
       makeNativeMethod(
           "checkDuplicateSharedTag", LayoutAnimations::checkDuplicateSharedTag),
 #endif
diff --git a/android/src/main/cpp/LayoutAnimations.h b/android/src/main/cpp/LayoutAnimations.h
index 692c3172ad8e..053c8948ea29 100644
--- a/android/src/main/cpp/LayoutAnimations.h
+++ b/android/src/main/cpp/LayoutAnimations.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class LayoutAnimations : public jni::HybridClass<LayoutAnimations> {
       std::function<void(int, int, alias_ref<JMap<jstring, jstring>>)>;
   using HasAnimationBlock = std::function<bool(int, int)>;
   using ShouldAnimateExitingBlock = std::function<bool(int, bool)>;
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   using CheckDuplicateSharedTag = std::function<void(int, int)>;
 #endif
   using ClearAnimationConfigBlock = std::function<void(int)>;
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class LayoutAnimations : public jni::HybridClass<LayoutAnimations> {
   void setHasAnimationBlock(HasAnimationBlock hasAnimationBlock);
   void setShouldAnimateExitingBlock(
       ShouldAnimateExitingBlock shouldAnimateExitingBlock);
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   void setCheckDuplicateSharedTag(
       CheckDuplicateSharedTag checkDuplicateSharedTag);
   void checkDuplicateSharedTag(int viewTag, int screenTag);
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class LayoutAnimations : public jni::HybridClass<LayoutAnimations> {
   CancelAnimationBlock cancelAnimationBlock_;
   FindPrecedingViewTagForTransitionBlock
       findPrecedingViewTagForTransitionBlock_;
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   CheckDuplicateSharedTag checkDuplicateSharedTag_;
 #endif
 
diff --git a/android/src/main/cpp/NativeProxy.cpp b/android/src/main/cpp/NativeProxy.cpp
index 74030e87545e..a1baf1e10b71 100644
--- a/android/src/main/cpp/NativeProxy.cpp
+++ b/android/src/main/cpp/NativeProxy.cpp
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@
 #include "RNRuntimeDecorator.h"
 #include "ReanimatedJSIUtils.h"
 #include "ReanimatedRuntime.h"
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 #include "ReanimatedVersion.h"
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 #include "WorkletRuntime.h"
 #include "WorkletRuntimeCollector.h"
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ jni::local_ref<NativeProxy::jhybriddata> NativeProxy::initHybrid(
       /**/);
 }
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 void NativeProxy::checkJavaVersion(jsi::Runtime &rnRuntime) {
   std::string javaVersion;
   try {
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ void NativeProxy::injectCppVersion() {
         "See `https://docs.swmansion.com/react-native-reanimated/docs/guides/troubleshooting#c-side-failed-to-resolve-java-code-version` for more details.");
   }
 }
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
 void NativeProxy::installJSIBindings() {
   jsi::Runtime &rnRuntime = *rnRuntime_;
@@ -149,10 +149,10 @@ void NativeProxy::installJSIBindings() {
   auto isReducedMotion = getIsReducedMotion();
   RNRuntimeDecorator::decorate(
       rnRuntime, nativeReanimatedModule_, isReducedMotion);
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   checkJavaVersion(rnRuntime);
   injectCppVersion();
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
   registerEventHandler();
   setupLayoutAnimations();
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@ void NativeProxy::setupLayoutAnimations() {
         return false;
       });
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   layoutAnimations_->cthis()->setCheckDuplicateSharedTag(
       [weakNativeReanimatedModule](int viewTag, int screenTag) {
         if (auto nativeReanimatedModule = weakNativeReanimatedModule.lock()) {
diff --git a/android/src/main/cpp/NativeProxy.h b/android/src/main/cpp/NativeProxy.h
index e73796625c17..2ce436ec7296 100644
--- a/android/src/main/cpp/NativeProxy.h
+++ b/android/src/main/cpp/NativeProxy.h
@@ -170,10 +170,10 @@ class NativeProxy : public jni::HybridClass<NativeProxy> {
   jsi::Runtime *rnRuntime_;
   std::shared_ptr<NativeReanimatedModule> nativeReanimatedModule_;
   jni::global_ref<LayoutAnimations::javaobject> layoutAnimations_;
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   void checkJavaVersion(jsi::Runtime &);
   void injectCppVersion();
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 #ifdef RCT_NEW_ARCH_ENABLED
   // removed temporarily, event listener mechanism needs to be fixed on RN side
   // std::shared_ptr<facebook::react::Scheduler> reactScheduler_;
diff --git a/apple/LayoutReanimation/REAAnimationsManager.h b/apple/LayoutReanimation/REAAnimationsManager.h
index bbc11729c854..2c14a89a9b3d 100644
--- a/apple/LayoutReanimation/REAAnimationsManager.h
+++ b/apple/LayoutReanimation/REAAnimationsManager.h
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ typedef BOOL (^REAShouldAnimateExitingBlock)(NSNumber *_Nonnull tag, BOOL should
 typedef void (
     ^REAAnimationStartingBlock)(NSNumber *_Nonnull tag, LayoutAnimationType type, NSDictionary *_Nonnull yogaValues);
 typedef void (^REAAnimationRemovingBlock)(NSNumber *_Nonnull tag);
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 typedef void (^REACheckDuplicateSharedTagBlock)(REAUIView *view, NSNumber *_Nonnull viewTag);
 #endif
 typedef void (^REACancelAnimationBlock)(NSNumber *_Nonnull tag);
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ BOOL REANodeFind(id<RCTComponent> view, int (^block)(id<RCTComponent>));
 - (void)setHasAnimationBlock:(REAHasAnimationBlock)hasAnimation;
 - (void)setShouldAnimateExitingBlock:(REAShouldAnimateExitingBlock)shouldAnimateExiting;
 - (void)setAnimationRemovingBlock:(REAAnimationRemovingBlock)clearAnimation;
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 - (void)setCheckDuplicateSharedTagBlock:(REACheckDuplicateSharedTagBlock)checkDuplicateSharedTag;
 #endif
 - (void)progressLayoutAnimationWithStyle:(NSDictionary *_Nonnull)newStyle
diff --git a/apple/LayoutReanimation/REAAnimationsManager.m b/apple/LayoutReanimation/REAAnimationsManager.m
index 572af3b3df5b..19b85a99f09c 100644
--- a/apple/LayoutReanimation/REAAnimationsManager.m
+++ b/apple/LayoutReanimation/REAAnimationsManager.m
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ @implementation REAAnimationsManager {
   REAShouldAnimateExitingBlock _shouldAnimateExiting;
   REAAnimationRemovingBlock _clearAnimationConfigForTag;
   REASharedTransitionManager *_sharedTransitionManager;
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   REACheckDuplicateSharedTagBlock _checkDuplicateSharedTag;
 #endif
 }
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ - (instancetype)initWithUIManager:(RCTUIManager *)uiManager
     _clearAnimationConfigForTag = ^(NSNumber *tag) {
       // default implementation, this block will be replaced by a setter
     };
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
     _checkDuplicateSharedTag = ^(REAUIView *view, NSNumber *viewTag) {
       // default implementation, this block will be replaced by a setter
     };
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ - (void)setAnimationRemovingBlock:(REAAnimationRemovingBlock)clearAnimation
   _clearAnimationConfigForTag = clearAnimation;
 }
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 - (void)setCheckDuplicateSharedTagBlock:(REACheckDuplicateSharedTagBlock)checkDuplicateSharedTag
 {
   _checkDuplicateSharedTag = checkDuplicateSharedTag;
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ - (void)viewDidMount:(REAUIView *)view withBeforeSnapshot:(nonnull REASnapshot *
   if (_hasAnimationForTag(viewTag, SHARED_ELEMENT_TRANSITION)) {
     if (type == ENTERING) {
       [_sharedTransitionManager notifyAboutNewView:view];
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
       _checkDuplicateSharedTag(view, viewTag);
 #endif
     } else {
diff --git a/apple/REAModule.mm b/apple/REAModule.mm
index 5234e655099e..4d9cb054d349 100644
--- a/apple/REAModule.mm
+++ b/apple/REAModule.mm
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ @implementation REAModule {
 #else
   NSMutableArray<AnimatedOperation> *_operations;
 #endif
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   SingleInstanceChecker<REAModule> singleInstanceChecker_;
 #endif
   bool hasListeners;
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ - (void)setBridge:(RCTBridge *)bridge
   // only within the first loading `self.bridge.surfacePresenter` exists
   // during the reload `self.bridge.surfacePresenter` is null
   _surfacePresenter = self.bridge.surfacePresenter;
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   if (reaSurface == nil) {
     // we need only one instance because SurfacePresenter is the same during the application lifetime
     reaSurface = [[REAInitializerRCTFabricSurface alloc] init];
diff --git a/apple/RNReanimated.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/apple/RNReanimated.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index df7566c2fb25..d55b9e3da185 100644
--- a/apple/RNReanimated.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/apple/RNReanimated.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -429,7 +429,6 @@
 				GCC_NO_COMMON_BLOCKS = YES;
 				GCC_OPTIMIZATION_LEVEL = 0;
 				GCC_PREPROCESSOR_DEFINITIONS = (
-					"DEBUG=1",
 					"$(inherited)",
 				);
 				GCC_SYMBOLS_PRIVATE_EXTERN = NO;
diff --git a/apple/native/NativeProxy.mm b/apple/native/NativeProxy.mm
index 1ffd30806229..08843c48d4f8 100644
--- a/apple/native/NativeProxy.mm
+++ b/apple/native/NativeProxy.mm
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #import <RNReanimated/ReanimatedRuntime.h>
 #import <RNReanimated/ReanimatedSensorContainer.h>
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
 #import <RNReanimated/REAScreensHelper.h>
 #endif
 
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ static CFTimeInterval calculateTimestampWithSlowAnimations(CFTimeInterval curren
     }
     return nil;
   }];
-#ifdef DEBUG
+#ifndef NDEBUG
   [animationsManager setCheckDuplicateSharedTagBlock:^(REAUIView *view, NSNumber *_Nonnull viewTag) {
     if (auto nativeReanimatedModule = weakNativeReanimatedModule.lock()) {
       REAUIView *screen = [REAScreensHelper getScreenForView:(REAUIView *)view];
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ static CFTimeInterval calculateTimestampWithSlowAnimations(CFTimeInterval curren
       nativeReanimatedModule->layoutAnimationsManager().checkDuplicateSharedTag([viewTag intValue], screenTag);
     }
   }];
-#endif // DEBUG
+#endif // NDEBUG
 
 #endif