Report on Romania's drug situation presented at Government meeting

The number of requests for assistance related to drug use decreased in 2024 compared to the previous year, with 2,260 such cases recorded?33.1% fewer than in 2023?according to a report presented at Thursday's government meeting.According to a statement by the Government, the National Agency for Coordination and Policies on Drugs and Addictions (ANPCDDA) has presented the 2025 National Report on Drugs, reflecting the situation and indicators collected for the 2024 reference year, in line with the standardized reporting practice applied by EU member states."An analysis of the drug situation in Romania highlights that the phenomenon continues to evolve rapidly, driven by shifts in consumption patterns, the emergence of new psychoactive substances, and recent socio-economic and technological developments. The report indicates that in 2024, the ANPCDDA continued implementing drug use prevention projects aimed at informing and raising public awareness regarding the bio-psycho-social effects of consuming drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and new psychoactive substances. Activities included campaigns in schools and high schools, initiatives at festivals and cultural or sporting events, as well as local projects carried out in collaboration with school inspectorates, the Gendarmerie, and the Police," the statement reads.At the same time, projects were implemented that combined information, education, counseling, and community engagement to reduce the risks associated with substance use and to strengthen protective factors at the individual, family, and community levels.The number of drug users receiving comprehensive assistance in 2024 has decreased, with 2,260 requests for assistance recorded?33.1% fewer than in the previous year?according to the report."Among the young population, the growth rates of illicit drug use have leveled off. Specifically, compared to 2019, recent and current use have declined slightly, while lifetime use has risen from 18.10% to 18.50%. All categories of use among young women have increased, in contrast to prevalence rates among young men, which fell in 2024 compared to 2019," the statement explains.In 2024, 3,305 individuals deprived of liberty self-identified as drug users upon entering the penitentiary system, representing 13.4% of the total population in the custody of the National Administration of Penitentiaries (ANP)."Regarding the drug market, cannabis seizures continue to account for the majority of seizures nationwide, while cocaine seizures remain at a level similar to that recorded the previous year. A decrease in the availability of new psychoactive substances on the street or through commercial outlets has been observed, yet availability has increased online as well as within clandestine environments linked to organized crime groups," the report reveals.An analysis of data regarding drug-related crime shows an increase in the number of cases resolved by the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism."The report's findings also highlight the current limitations of the data collection and analysis system, which affect the ability to formulate policies based on solid evidence. The report underscores the need to harmonize data collection methodologies at the national level, digitize and interconnect relevant databases, increase the frequency and accuracy of reporting in the fields of health, education, and law enforcement, strengthen analytical capacities through specialist training and the use of modern analysis tools, and more systematically integrate qualitative data and sociological research into the evaluation process," the Government further stated.