When the choice between performance and addiction becomes increasingly present in young people's lives, there is one place where the answer is already clear: the sports field. Where discipline, ambition and performance are built day by day, the national anti-drug campaign "Aware, not addicted", run by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, is expanding its mission and bringing the message of prevention directly to the future champions.
The new stage of the campaign marks an important strategic direction: the involvement of sports clubs on the edge of big cities, where young people are consciously choosing a different path. Here sport is not just an extracurricular activity, but a real alternative to the dangerous temptations of the urban environment.
Within the event, young athletes, medal winners at national and international competitions, were named ambassadors of the Aware, not addicted campaign. These are the young people who not only perform but also understand and pass on a key message: sport beats drugs. By their own example, they become role models for their generation, demonstrating that success comes from discipline, not compromise.
The event brought together specialists, educators and mentors actively involved in training the young people. Anti-drug expert Cătălin Țone gave an open dialogue to participants, explaining the real risks of substance use and offered concrete tools with which they can combat misinformation in their social circles. The message was clear: prevention starts with the right information and the courage to say "no".
The director of the Secondary School No. 206 in Bucharest, Adrian Iancu, emphasized the essential role of informal education and the way young people spend their free time. In a context where risks are increasingly diversified, safe environments and constructive activities become pillars of healthy development.
The highlight of the event was the sports demonstration by the youngsters, proof that energy, adrenaline and the need for affirmation can be channeled in a positive way. The club's coordinator, George Holly, emphasized the importance of sport as a real alternative to addictions, stressing that the discipline of training can become a lifestyle that keeps young people away from negative influences.
The expansion of the "Aware, not addicted" campaign in the sports environment comes as a direct response to today's realities, where prevention needs to reach where young people build their identity. By engaging today's champions, the Foundation creates authentic role models for tomorrow's leaders.
Because sometimes the most powerful lesson doesn't come from a speech, but from an example: a child who chooses training over temptation, performance over addiction and life over risk.
