At the Ștefan Odobleja High School in Bucharest, a regular form teacher's class turned into a life lesson. Eighth graders openly discussed about addictions, how they occur and how they can be stopped in time. The activity was part of the anti-drug campaign "Aware, not addicted", run at national level by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, which aims to prevent drug use through education and dialog.
Under the guidance of teacher Mariana Voinea, students were active participants. Instead of a traditional lecture, the class became a sincere conversation about the behaviors that can lead, over time, to addiction, whether we're talking about technology, online validation or illegal substances. Special guest psychologist Gabriela Maalouf explained to children how easy it is to go from curiosity to habit and from habit to addiction.
According to data from the National Anti-Drug Agency, almost 10% of Romanian students aged between 13 and 16 have experimented with drugs at least once, and more than 40% spend more than four hours a day online, in environments that can favor exposure to dangerous content. The statistics clearly show that early prevention through schools is the most effective way to reduce risks.
Through this campaign, the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania brings to schools modern educational resources, interactive workshops and concrete examples on how to avoid addictions. The "Form teacher's class" project aims to teach students to identify the dangerous signs, but also to build critical thinking and a balanced lifestyle.
For the students of "Ștefan Odobleja", the lesson was a different experience. Many of them said that they had never had the opportunity to talk freely about the pressures and temptations around them. It was a class in which they listened to each other, recognized how easily excesses can occur and understood that education and dialogue are the first forms of protection.
Through the "Aware, not addicted" campaign, the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania aims to extend these classes in as many schools as possible, so that the younger generations learn that real freedom is not about trying everything, but knowing when to say "no".
