How does a teenager come to try drugs? How significant is peer pressure? What are the early warning signs that parents and teachers should not ignore, and—above all—how can drug use be prevented before it becomes a problem? These are the central questions addressed in the new meetings organized as part of the “Conștient, nu dependent” (Conscious, Not Dependent) national anti-drug campaign, which is continuing its tour across Romania with stops in Călărași, Piatra Neamț, and Târgu Mureș. Launched by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, the campaign emphasizes a key aspect of prevention: direct dialogue with young people, alongside the involvement of the adults who guide them through the vulnerable years of adolescence.
The meetings will feature Cătălin Țone, an anti-drug expert, and Gabriela Maalouf, a psychologist and education expert with the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania. Using accessible, straightforward language, they will explore the factors that can lead to drug use—ranging from curiosity and the need for belonging to peer pressure, emotional vulnerabilities, and the false belief that “it can’t happen to me.” The discussions will also cover warning signs indicating a potential problem, the consequences of drug use, and how families and schools can intervene before the situation escalates.
The “Conștient, nu dependent” campaign offers a format that differs from traditional presentations on the dangers of drugs. These are not lectures delivered from a podium, but open conversations where teenagers are encouraged to ask questions, while parents and teachers gain tools to better understand the realities young people face. A key element of the campaign is bringing these three groups—students, parents, and teachers—together into the same conversation about prevention. While accurate information can reduce vulnerability, it is constant dialogue and the ability of adults to recognize behavioral changes that truly make the difference when a teenager is going through a difficult time.
On September 30, the campaign arrives in Călărași; a meeting dedicated to students will take place at 2:00 PM at the County Center for Culture and Creativity. Later that same day, at 5:00 PM, the discussion will continue with teachers and parents at the “Tudor Vladimirescu” Middle School.
On October 8, the “Conscious, Not Dependent” (“Conștient, nu dependent”) campaign heads to Piatra Neamț and the “Mon Amour” Cinema for another meeting with students, followed by a stop in Târgu Mureș on October 9 at the “Mihai Eminescu” Cultural Center.
With every new stop, the campaign carries forward the same message: prevention does not begin only when substance use starts, but much earlier—through accurate information, attentiveness, and timely conversations. And when young people, parents, and teachers realize they are on the same team, prevention can become truly effective.
