The Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania is organising the Webdidactica Conference ‘Aware, not addicted’ – Education, the front line in the fight against drugs on Thursday, 10 July, at 7 p.m., an event dedicated to one of the most alarming phenomena affecting the younger generation: drug use.
This edition of Webdidactica will bring together anti-drug experts, teachers, psychologists, doctors, as well as people who have experienced addiction and are now rebuilding their lives. Together, they will offer real, honest and documented perspectives on how education can become not just a tool for information, but a protective shield for children and teenagers in Romania.
The conference will address key topics:
- How teachers and parents can identify early signs of drug use;
- What role psychological counselling plays in prevention;
- How to educate about drugs without creating fear, but rather responsibility;
- What society can learn from those who have gone through this experience.
In a context where Romania is facing an alarming increase in the consumption of illicit substances among young people, this conference affirms an essential truth: the fight against drugs begins in school, at home, in the community – where values are formed and choices are shaped.
Education is the first line of defence, and teachers, parents and counsellors are often the first to notice the silent signs of danger creeping into children's lives.
According to data from the National Anti-Drug Agency, almost 1 in 10 high school students in Romania has used drugs at least once. Worse still, the age of first use is falling rapidly, with cases of drug use among children under 13 reported in some counties. Over the past five years, the number of young people admitted to treatment centres has increased by more than 70%, and specialist staff are already overstretched. At the same time, prevention remains fragmented and real support for parents is insufficient.
Participation in the conference is free of charge and will be broadcast online on the YouTube channel of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania on Thursday, 10 July, at 7 p.m. Those who wish to participate can do so by filling in the application form. Any teacher, parent or teenager interested in the topic can participate. The conference is part of the national campaign ‘Aware, not addicted’, launched by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania.
