The consumption of illicit substances today goes beyond being a simple public health issue. It is a reality that calls into question the resilience of our communities and the ability to provide solid guidance for future generations. The response to this challenge cannot be one-sided, but requires building a space for authentic communication, founded on truth and scientific rigor.
Starting from this premise, the Grand National Lodge of Romania, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, initiated the National Anti-Drug Conferences in 2024 – a preventive education program that brings together the expertise of specialists in medicine, psychology, and public safety with the concrete needs of students, parents, and teachers. The sessions are moderated by anti-drug expert Cătălin Țone, whose balanced approach facilitates the transition from simple information to a deep understanding of risk mechanisms.
The effectiveness of this approach stems from its interdisciplinary structure. The conferences are not conceived as top-down speeches, but as platforms for authentic exchange of experience. An essential element of each session is the participation of people who have gone through the difficult path of addiction and recovery.
The presence of these direct testimonies adds a necessary human dimension, offering a perspective on lived reality that complements the theoretical data. Thus, young people understand not only the clinical risks but also the systemic impact on their entire existence – personal and professional.
The objectives of the sessions target three complementary directions: clarifying the phenomenon by identifying the risks associated with new substances and understanding their neurobiological impact; strengthening the ability of parents and teachers to recognize early signs of vulnerability; disseminating support protocols and resources available in the community.
Since the first conference held in April 2024 at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, the program has experienced organic expansion, responding to requests from all over the country. The route taken reflects a genuine need for preventive dialogue, manifested both in large university centers and in smaller communities, where access to such educational resources is often limited.
In the first year of implementation, the conferences reached cities such as Petroșani, Vulcan, Deva, Hunedoara, Arad, Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Cluj-Napoca, and Slatina, covering diverse geographical areas and addressing communities with distinct social realities. This diversity has allowed the message to be adapted to local contexts, while maintaining scientific coherence and rigor in the approach.
The year 2025 brought an intensification of activity, with events held in educational institutions and cultural spaces in Iași, Slobozia, Pitești, Vâlcea, Mediaș, Focșani, Timișoara, Oradea, Suceava, Botoșani, Tulcea, Zalău, Galați, Brăila, and Brașov. Audiences ranged from high school students to university students, from teachers to parents concerned about the evolution of their children in an increasingly complex environment.
A notable aspect of the program is the inclusion of sessions dedicated separately to students and adults – a recognition of the fact that each category requires adapted language and specific tools for understanding. The conferences in Bragadiru, Balș, and Voluntari illustrated the effectiveness of this differentiated approach, generating profound dialogues with both young people and those who guide them.
The tens of thousands of participants gathered so far are not just a statistical figure but an expression of a community that has assumed responsibility for preventive education. Each session has become a local point of reference, a resource to which students, parents, and teachers can return when faced with dilemmas or risky situations.
Authentic prevention is an act of collective responsibility. It is not based on coercion but on informed discernment. The National Anti-Drug Conferences offer young people the tools they need to assess the consequences of their decisions and protect their potential in an increasingly complex environment.
Through this program, the Grand National Lodge of Romania honors its mission to contribute to social stability, providing a model of good practice in which education becomes the main pillar of safety – both individual and collective. It is a joint effort dedicated not only to the young people of today but to the integrity of the society of tomorrow.
Chisinau: Festive Hall of the Rîșcani District Mayor’s Office
Feb 12, 2026
Education against drug use – 350 participants at the Anti-Drug Conference in Chișinău
On February 12, 2026, the Anti-Drug Conference was held in the Festive Hall of the Rîșcani District Court in Chișinău, organized in partnership with the Synergy Moldova Public Association, the Grand National Lodge of Romania (MLNR), the Grand Lodge of Moldova, and the General Directorate of Education, Youth, and Sports of Chișinău.
The event confirmed that education and coherent institutional collaboration are the foundation of any effective strategy to prevent drug use among young people.
About the event
The conference, moderated by Prof. Cătălin Țone, brought together over 350 participants: managers and directors from 151 municipal schools, as well as 134 students who are members of the Chișinău Student Council. The presence of local authority representatives underscored the importance and urgency of the topic addressed.
The central message of the conference was clear: without sustained, coherent, and applied education, the fight against drug use remains a mere declaration of intent.
Shared responsibility for protecting young people
The partnership between Synergy Moldova, the Grand National Lodge of Romania, the Grand Lodge of Moldova, and local authorities in Chișinău demonstrates that shared responsibility between civil society and public institutions can build sustainable mechanisms to protect young people from the dangers of drugs.
Gruiu: “Ștefan Iordache” Cultural Center, Gruiu-Snagov Road no. 150.
Dec 19, 2025, 10:00 AM
Volunteers: Gabriela Szabo Sports Hall, 1-9 Buziaș Street (sessions for students and adults).
Dec 18, 2025, 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Găești: Dumitru Stanciu Cultural Center, 5 Nicolae Titulescu Street.
Dec 17, 2025, 10:00 AM