Methodological guides for the prevention of addictions, launched by ANPCDDA and the Ministry of Education

The National Agency for Policies and Coordination in the Field of Drugs and Addictions (ANPCDDA), in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research (MEC), has launched two methodological intervention guides for the prevention of addictions, intended for teachers and parents. The documents offer, for the first time in Romania, a practical and integrated framework for action against substance use and other addictive behaviors among young people.

• An integrated approach: school - family - community

The two guides, developed by specialists from ANPCDDA and MEC, aim to consolidate a prevention strategy at the educational level, following the model adopted in other European countries. "The problem of addiction is an important one for Romanian schools, so the ministry proposes a more complex approach - control of the phenomenon outside of school, prevention and identification in school, as well as specialized treatment," said Prof. Dr. Psych. Daniel David, Minister of Education and Research. According to him, the launched guides "address the phenomenon mainly in the control and prevention segments", having the potential to significantly contribute to reducing risk behaviors among students.

• Concrete tools for teachers and parents

The new materials contain specialized and applicable information, adapted to the age of children, and offer methodological recommendations for teachers. Teachers will learn how to effectively talk with students and parents about substance use, but also how to identify signs of addictive behavior. The first guide proposes principles of educational and preventive intervention, as well as methods for group discussions and explanations regarding the mechanisms of addiction in adolescence. The second guide is dedicated to parents, providing tools for raising awareness of the risks associated with drug use and for developing effective educational strategies in the family. "The launch of the guides represents an important step for preventing drug use, but also for other addictions, especially in the school environment,” emphasized Rareş Petru Achiriloaie, president of ANPCDDA. He added that the documents offer "the first practical resource through which teachers and families can intervene preventively, learning to recognize and manage risk behaviors.”

• Free access for all schools in Romania

ANPCDDDA and MEC announced that the guides have already been sent to school inspectorates, which will distribute them to all educational institutions in the country. The materials are available free of charge and can be used both in counseling classes and in extracurricular programs. The aim of the initiative is to create a unified framework for action in addiction prevention, based on collaboration between family, school and local community. "If we want our young people to develop healthily, we must strengthen the family-school-local community partnership”,

added Rareş Petru Achiriloaie. Through this initiative, Romania aligns itself with European practices in the field of mental health education and addiction prevention. The two guides not only provide pedagogical tools, but also pave the way towards a culture of collective responsibility in protecting the health of young people.