Romania Launches Strategy to Combat Addiction Harms
Romania is set to implement a comprehensive strategy aimed at tackling addiction harms across the country. President Klaus Iohannis recently signed a decree co-authored by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Justice to establish eight regional centres dedicated to addiction treatment.
Addressing Treatment Gaps
The new strategy aims to address the inadequacies in the current system for treating drug, alcohol, and gambling addictions, especially among those under 25.
The initiative will see Romania adopt a more structured approach to combating and researching addiction across its administrative regions.
Government Commitment
Minister of Justice, Alina Gorghiu, emphasized the need for this initiative, highlighting that the existing framework left many Romanians without adequate treatment options, which were mostly provided by private clinics and NGOs. She praised the legislative efforts by her party, PNL, in initiating this crucial law.
The Ministry of Justice will oversee the project, ensuring the prioritization of funding and construction of the regional centres. However, specific timelines for the project’s completion have not yet been provided.
Growing Concerns Over Gambling Addiction
With over 25,000 gambling venues operating in Romania, regional MPs and mayors have expressed increasing concerns about gambling addiction.
In response, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu issued an executive order to ban gambling establishments in towns with fewer than 15,000 residents.
This order now awaits a constitutional review following an intervention by the Supreme Court of Cassation.
New Tax Rates on Gambling Winnings
Romania’s licensed gambling operators are currently adapting to new tax rates on winnings, which include a 3% tax on winnings up to 10,000 lei (€2,000), a fixed tax plus 20% on winnings between 10,001 and 66,750 lei, and a fixed tax plus 40% on winnings over 66,750 lei (€13,350).
Despite the increasing focus on gambling addiction, Romania’s government has not conducted a census on the issue since 2015.
This lack of recent data leaves authorities without a clear understanding of the current scope of gambling-related harm.
