Romania Catches Up on Addiction Treatment

Alexandru Rogobete, the Minister of Health, announced the launch of a working group that will develop a national program dedicated to addictions, at a time when authorities recognize Romania's major delay in addressing this phenomenon. The statement was made on the occasion of the inauguration of the CREAATiV center - the Center for Recovery, Education and Treatment of Toxicodependence Sf. Stelian, a project dedicated to young people affected by addictions. "The area of addictions has been left behind for a long time. We are now catching up on this gap," the minister said, emphasizing that the new program will be built on two essential directions: treatment,

prevention. The initiative comes in the context in which Romania does not yet have a coherent and integrated strategy at national level to combat addictions, despite the increase in the number of cases, especially among young people.

• Partnerships between the state and civil society

The center inaugurated in Bucharest is the result of collaboration between the authorities and the non-governmental environment, being developed by the Zi de BINE Association, coordinated by Melania Medeleanu. The unit operates within the "Sf. Stelian" Center and offers: residential programs for young people, specialized medical interventions, psychological counseling, recovery and reintegration activities. The current capacity is approximately 50 patients annually, with the possibility of expanding to 100.

• Work and creative therapy

A distinctive element of the center is the emphasis on occupational therapy, a method that uses practical and creative activities as a therapeutic tool. This type of intervention is considered essential in the recovery process, because: it helps rebuild daily routines, develops social and professional skills, contributes to mental balance. The applied model is an integrated one, in which medical treatment is complemented by psychological support and therapeutic activities adapted to the needs of each patient. The announcement of a national program dedicated to addictions could mark a paradigm shift in public health policies. Currently, the Romanian system is fragmented, and access to treatment remains limited, especially outside the big cities. The new initiative could aim to: expand the network of treatment centers, standardize interventions, integrate medical and social services, develop prevention programs in schools. However, it remains to be seen to what extent this project will benefit from consistent funding and administrative continuity, essential conditions for transforming the initiative into an effective public policy.