Romanian Large Families Association (ASFANU), together with the Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE) and the “Eu Te Iubesc” Association by Laura Cosoi, launched a partnership to analyze the phenomenon of addictions among children.
On November 10, 2025, in the ASE Aula, the results of the study “The Economic and Social Impact of Addictions among Minors in Romania” were officially presented.
The national study was based on responses from 1,000 parents, who shared their perceptions of the addiction phenomenon, as well as the economic and social costs generated by addictions at the national level.
The event brought together specialists, representatives of public institutions, parents, students, and civil society organizations, in an open and responsible dialogue.
What the study shows:
- When parents are informed, supported, and emotionally balanced, they can better protect their children. But daily fatigue and pressure reduce this capacity.
- For many families in rural areas or with low incomes, access to counseling is difficult, and risks increase.
- Community helps. Support from other parents, extended family, and friends reduces stress and strengthens prevention.
- Values lived within the family matter more than fear, control, or prohibition.
- In large families, addictions are less frequent than in one-child families, where loneliness is often more pronounced.
Numbers that matter:
- The estimated cost of addictions among minors in Romania (2024) is approximately €1.35 billion (≈0.4% of GDP).
- Addictions affect not only children’s health but also the country’s demographic and economic future. In the medium and long term, Romania’s workforce will be reduced not only by demographic decline but also by the growing number of people developing addictions.
- Children aged 8–18 who have dropped out of school (486,700 children) are at higher risk of addictions. In 2024, 43.9% of young people who dropped out of high school reported drug use.
- The conversion of online time shows the scale of the problem:
▪ 1 hour/day = 365 hours/year
▪ 3 hours/day = over 1,000 hours/year
▪ 6 hours/day = nearly 2,200 hours/year — the equivalent of an entire school term spent exclusively in recreational digital media.
The study “The Economic and Social Impact of Addictions among Minors in Romania” is not only about numbers or findings — it is about our children and about how society chooses to protect them.
Prevention starts within the family, but it cannot succeed without support, community, and public policies that reflect the real lives of parents.
