Minister Natalia Intotero explained that a play will be performed by high school students, and young individuals who have overcome drug addiction will share their experiences.

"We will also have influencers, both from the artistic field and representatives from the media who have chosen to partner with us", added Intotero, who also emphasized the need for "an aggressive campaign to combat drug consumption through all means and types of communication".

"We have several actions planed. First, we have already started these activities among minors and young people institutionalized in the child protection system. Likewise, we have organized a few national events so far for children who have been identified with the most severe trauma, not just institutionally cared-for children, but also young people outside the system, whose parents have gone to work abroad or children who have lost their parents in accidents or other misfortunes. From every county. It was a pilot action, a success, and we have more requests for next year. Thus, there are approximately 5,000 spots nationwide, 100 spots from each county. The selection was made through DGASPC (the General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection). It was a pilot action. We wanted to see the impact and if more events of this kind are needed. Similarly, on the occasion of World Education Day, on October 5, with the support of student cultural houses, we had these drug prevention events with over 10,000 young participants across the country", Natalia Intotero stated when asked about the Ministry of Family's involvement in the campaign to prevent drug consumption in schools.

"In the coming period, we plan to create a Caravan with a customized bus that will travel to all the counties in the country, to produce a very well-performed play, written by high school students, and, of course, young people who have overcome this problem of drug consumption, as well as influencers, both from the artistic field and representatives from the media who have chosen to partner with us. Last but not least, a very important element is an application that will constantly benefit from new information from relevant institutions. This application should be accessible not only in educational institutions, but also in commercial spaces and means of transportation. We want it to be an attractive application for both students and parents, grandparents", Intotero explained.

Asked about the measures proposed by the Ministry of Family in the Interministerial Committee on Combating Drug Consumption, Natalia Intotero responded: "First of all, there will be an aggressive campaign to combat drug consumption and an adapted campaign through all means and types of communication".

"Face-to-face communication in educational institutions, communication by supporting non-governmental organizations in the family sector, because it is also very important to raise parents’ awareness of this worrying phenomenon. Online communication, through media support, television, anything that enables information to reach the beneficiaries. In addition, legislative changes are necessary, and it is very important to establish addiction centers, because those struggling with this problem need help", Intotero added.

Regarding the action taken by the Bucharest Prefecture to distribute questionnaires in schools on the issue of drug use, the Minister of Family replied: "I am curious about the content of these questionnaires, whether they refer to testing in schools, to more prevention activities or other measures that should be taken".

"This anti-drug education can be an initiative that can be carried out after this questionnaire, in optional classes, curriculum at the school's discretion. When it comes to these classes, they are scheduled based on the requests of the beneficiaries, specifically students, with input from parents. Regarding testing in schools, I think it's a good initiative. However, during our discussions in the drafting of the education laws at the time, parents were somewhat reluctant, because the tests available on the market do not encompass all types of substances, such that their consumption could mimic a drug sensation", Intotero concluded.

On October 17, during a press conference, Rareș Hopincă, the Prefect of Bucharest, announced that beginning next Monday, questionnaires addressing the matter of drug consumption will be distributed in schools, encompassing both middle and high school levels. These questionnaires will inquire whether parents and students consent to drug testing under specific conditions, which includes having the costs covered by the National Health Insurance House, as well as introducing anti-drug education classes into the school curriculum. The Prefect stated that in Bucharest, there are approximately 150,000 students in the middle and high school levels, and roughly 15,000 students who are of legal age and who will be provided with this questionnaire.

The Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT), in its meeting on October 12 at the Cotroceni Palace, addressed the issue of drug and other psychoactive substance consumption by young people and students, considering it a major risk to individual and national security, according to the Presidential Administration.

Thus, CSAT members decided to establish an inter-institutional working group consisting of state secretaries from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Family, Youth and Equal Opportunities, representatives of the Romanian Intelligence Service, prosecutors appointed by the Public Ministry, and specialists from the involved institutions, under the coordination of the Romanian Government.

This working group will elaborate an action plan that will include objectives and general and specific measures to effectively prevent and combat the risks posed by drug trafficking and consumption. Therefore, the first measures concerning drug trafficking and consumption will focus on eliminating legislative gaps, expanding access to treatment and recovery and implementing the school safety plan.