Teenage drug use has become one of the most serious social challenges of the last decade. According to the most recent European Drug Report , conducted by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, almost 1 in 5 European teenagers has tried illicit drugs at least once, and the age of onset continues to fall. In Romania, ANPCDDA studies show that about 10% of high school students have experimented at least one banned substance and the use of new psychoactive substances is on the rise.
In this context, prevention becomes essential - Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania supports, as an educational partner, the Municipal Anti-Drug Conference "The Power Lies in Healthy Choices", organized by the Secondary School no. 206, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 18:00. The event is dedicated to parents and teachers and is part of the Municipal Educational Project "The Power Lies in Healthy Choices", included in the Calendar of Extracurricular Education Projects in the field of civic education, volunteering and charitable projects.
The conference aims to provide concrete tools for prevention and intervention at a time when both school and family are facing increasingly complex challenges. Experts warn that the first signs of substance use can start as early as middle school, and lack of the right information or delayed reactions can amplify the risks.
The event will be held by the anti-drug expert Prof. Dr. Col. Dr. Cătălin Țone, one of the most well-known voices in the field of combating drug trafficking and drug use, together with a former drug user, who will discuss his personal experience and the psychological mechanisms that can lead a teenager to addiction. The event will also mark the launch of the book "How to keep your child away from drugs" by anti-drug expert Cătălin Țone, a guide for parents and teachers that provides clear explanations and practical tools to prevent substance use among youth. Adriana Iancu, director of Secondary School No 206, is an active voice in promoting this message, emphasizing the need for schools to play an active role in prevention.
The participation of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania in this conference is part of the national anti-drug campaign "Aware, not addicted", an education and prevention initiative that aims to bring in schools and communities the real dialog about the risks of substance use. The campaign promotes early intervention, correct information and collaboration between teachers, parents, psychologists and authorities.
In recent months, the campaign reached several cities in the north of the country - Botoșani, Iași, Suceava and Rădăuți. The meetings with students, teachers and parents, held by Cătălin Țone and psychologist Gabriela Maalouf, highlighted worrying realities: easy access to substances, social pressure online and a lack of clear reference points among teenagers. The experts stress that effective prevention doesn't start when the problem appears, but much earlier, through education, dialogue and community involvement.
By hosting the conference "The Power in Healthy Choices", the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania continues its mission to support initiatives that provide information, support and real tools to protect young people, in an area where informed decisions can make the difference between risk and safety.
