The Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania organized the Webdidactica conference "Aware, not dependent – Education, the front line in the fight against drugs," an event that brought together specialists from key areas: education, health, prevention, and recovery to launch a broad, multidisciplinary initiative in support of young Romanians.
The event highlighted the acute need for coordinated and constant intervention in the face of an alarming phenomenon: drug use among young people under the age of 25, with an increasing and visible incidence in schools, communities, and hospitals.
"No vacation in the fight against drugs," warned Cătălin Țone, an anti-drug expert, emphasizing that "Romania has lost the start in the fight against drugs in every aspect" and that "civil society must support the state in building a system with real territorial coverage." In his view, prevention, treatment, and enforcement must be addressed simultaneously, and the lack of specialists is one of the most serious shortcomings of the current system.
Adriana Iancu, principal of Secondary School No. 206 in Bucharest, sounded the alarm about the lack of clear direction in schools: "Romanian schools are looking for direction from the perspective of drug use. We cannot gloss over the issue of drug use—we must bring together parents, teachers, and civil society." She emphasized the importance of planning leisure time for students and actively involving the community in prevention.
Dr. Valeria Herdea, primary care physician and member of AREPMF, stated: "We need a mandatory hour of health education from kindergarten through ninth grade. Without education, prevention is impossible." She also highlighted the acute lack of treatment centers and specialized psychiatrists: "We have screening, but we don't have enough recovery centers. Health needs money, and society needs education."
Lucian Ibănescu, a former drug user, gave a moving testimony about the lack of resources during his adolescence: "In 12 years of school, I had only one prevention campaign, and my parents didn't know where to look for help. Today, however, I see hope." His message was clear: "No matter how difficult the situation is, there is hope."
Laura Cătană, a senior psychiatrist, highlighted the medical dimension of addiction: "We are talking about a chronic disease, and well-being is achieved through treatment, not cure. It is time to eliminate the stigma associated with seeking psychiatric help." Laura Cătană reiterated that addiction is a collective suffering, and that the right intervention begins with diagnosis, treatment, and reintegration into the community.
The conference saw the launch of Romania's first interactive digital map showing, county by county, the number of cases of drug use among young people under 25 over the last five years. This tool provides a clear picture of the distribution of the phenomenon, facilitating informed decisions by local authorities and communities.
At the same time, the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania has launched the volunteer program "Aware, not addicted," aimed at all those who want to get involved in building a national prevention and support network. Teachers, parents, and students are invited to become part of this active community, contributing to the organization and promotion of local actions. The Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania will run the "Aware, not addicted" campaign nationwide, and actions will continue throughout the country – from digital maps to monthly meetings and a practical anti-drug guide for parents.
