site.btaPresident Radev: Youth Drug Abuse Puts Nation’s Future at Risk

The spread and use of drugs among young people endangers their future and health, posing a threat to the nation's future, President Rumen Radev said here on Tuesday.

Radev made the statement following a meeting of the Consultative Council on National Security (CCNS), which focused on the Risks and Threats to National Security Arising from the Spread of Narcotic and Intoxicating Substances Among the Younger Generation and Their Abuse topic.

Legislative and Policy Measures

The council proposed concrete measures, including amendments to the criminal and procedural codes, which will be published on the website of the presidential institution. One key recommendation is the ratification of the MEDICRIME Convention to regulate the production and distribution of counterfeit and banned substances.

Radev highlighted growing concerns over the declining age of first exposure to alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs, and the emergence of new psychoactive substances that are difficult to detect and often produced at home. Online drug sales and illicit trade via social media platforms, many operating from abroad, further complicate enforcement efforts.

Stronger Oversight and Prevention

Radev stressed that enforcement is as important as legislation. “Laws alone are not enough—strict oversight is critical. Psychoactive substances are infiltrating schools, nightclubs are filled with minors using illicit substances, and banned websites remain active for months,” Radev said. He called for continuous monitoring and tougher action against those distributing drugs.

Prevention, he added, starts at home. Parents must not ignore the reality that sooner or later, their children will be exposed to drugs. Open conversations and guidance are crucial in helping them navigate these dangers, he said.

State’s Role and National Strategies

The CCNS underscored the need for a new five-year national strategy to combat drug abuse, updates to youth and sports policies, and an evaluation of successful European models. Increased funding for extracurricular activities and mass sports was also recommended as a way to provide young people with healthier alternatives.

Radev emphasized that tackling drug abuse requires mobilizing the entire society—State institutions, the education system, local authorities, and parents. “We need strong political will, and today’s meeting demonstrates that there is a united strategy and commitment to action,” he concluded.

The CCNS proposed amendments to the Penal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure to curb drug production and distribution, along with the signing and ratification of the MEDICRIME Convention. It called for stronger oversight and enforcement of drug-related regulations, the development of a new five-year national drug strategy, and updates to youth and sports policies.

Increased funding for youth programs, sports, and extracurricular activities, plus the optimization of addiction prevention structures and improved coordination among agencies, were also highlighted. The council urged the government and the National Assembly to act swiftly on these measures to safeguard future generations.