Romania's 'Poor Man's Drugs' Easily Available to Children, Anti-Drug Specialist Warns

Romania faces a growing crisis as drug consumption, particularly among young people, escalates rapidly. The age at which individuals begin using drugs has alarmingly dropped to as low as 10 years old, according to specialists.

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It is clear that, from a statistical point of view, we are, by many parameters and prevalences, below the European average.

These experts warn that Romania is increasingly becoming a market for cheap synthetic drugs. These substances are not only easily procurable but also highly dangerous, posing a severe threat to children and adolescents. The perception that drug problems are confined to specific urban areas or wealthy families is a misconception, as the issue is becoming more widespread.

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But the phenomenon has grown, in my opinion, and this assessment takes into account the fact that we do not yet have a well-established system for prevention, combating, and treatment of drug consumption.

Cătălin Țone, an anti-drug specialist and former head of the Bucharest Anti-Drug Service, highlights the urgency of the situation. While Romania's drug consumption rates may still be below the European average, he emphasizes that the phenomenon is growing. He points to a lack of effective prevention, combat, and treatment policies as a key factor contributing to this rise.

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Especially since our policies, in my opinion, are not sufficiently effective at present, I believe we have real prospects for the phenomenon to grow.

Țone cautions that if Romania does not pay sufficient attention to its specific realities and circumstances, it risks facing significant surges in drug use in the near future. The accessibility of these drugs, often promoted indirectly through underground culture and influencers, further exacerbates the problem.

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If we are not sufficiently attentive to our situation, to our realities and to all these circumstances, we risk finding ourselves, in a relatively short time, with certain surges of the phenomenon.