The Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania is expanding the national anti-drug campaign "Aware, not addicted" with a series of educational meetings scheduled in the counties of Botoșani, Iași and Suceava. Between February 10 and 17, anti-drug expert Cătălin Țone and the psychologist of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, Gabriela Maalouf, will discuss directly with high school students, teachers and parents, in an applied information campaign on the real risks associated with the consumption of prohibited substances.
The calendar of actions starts in Botoșani on February 10, continues in Iași on February 11, and the team will reach Suceava on February 16 and Rădăuți on February 17. The presence of the two specialists responds to an acute need for expertise in local communities, as the age of starting drug use has fallen alarmingly, in some cases reaching under 13 years. Cătălin Țone, known for his firm stance on the need for coherent legislative and educational measures, will introduce young people to the legal and physical reality of addiction, beyond urban myths.
The psychological component of the meetings is provided by Gabriela Maalouf, who will touch on the emotional mechanisms behind temptation and the crucial role of communication in the family. This type of combiuned approach - legislative and psychological - is recommended by international studies which indicate that effective prevention is not based on intimidation, but on developing life skills and strengthening community bonds. Success models from other European countries have shown that the active involvement of parents and schools in young people's free time drastically reduces the rate of substance abuse.
Participants in these sessions will receive guides and educational materials developed by specialists, designed to provide clear benchmarks for identifying early signs of drug use and the steps needed for intervention.
The series of events in Moldova reconfirms the commitment of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania to take the anti-drug message directly to schools and communities, where group pressure and curiosity can quickly turn an experiment into a personal drama. Open, non-judgmental dialog between experts and young people remains one of the most effective ways to counter the drug phenomenon, a reality that requires constant vigilance and coordinated action.
