Bulgarian agencies educate children on drug and gambling addiction risks
Launched last summer, the “You Are Not Alone” campaign builds on over two decades of drug awareness work by the Customs Agency and now includes contributions from popular cultural figures and expanded outreach via social media.
Key points:
– Over 6,300 Bulgarian students received education on drug and gambling risks through the “You Are Not Alone” campaign
– The campaign targets synthetic drugs, online gambling exposure and social media influences
A nationwide awareness campaign in Bulgaria titled “You Are Not Alone”, led by the National Revenue Agency (NRA) and the Customs Agency, has reached more than 6,300 students during the 2024/25 academic year.
The initiative focuses on educating children and teenagers about the dangers of drug use and gambling addiction, especially in the context of growing digital exposure and easier access to both.
The latest outreach took place in Svilengrad on 19 June, where over 300 students attended a live demonstration and educational session.
Officials, including Stefan Bakalov, Head of the Customs Agency’s Anti-Drug Trafficking Department, and Anna Mitova, Director of Communications at the NRA, led discussions highlighting the psychological and financial consequences of addiction.
Trained customs dogs were also used in live demonstrations to engage the students and reinforce the message.
Commenting on the initiative, Mitova stated: “The feedback from our visits to schools is that, unfortunately, a large part of the children have already had contact with gambling, although by law they are prohibited for persons under 18. Therefore, our main goal is prevention.”
Good to know: Since the start of 2025, the NRA has blocked over 1,000 illegal gambling websites
Mitova went on to add that over 45,000 individuals are now listed in Bulgaria’s gambling self-exclusion register, which recently changed its minimum registration period from 30 days to 12 months.
The campaign has emphasised the connection between gambling and substance abuse, with particular attention given to synthetic drugs and misleading content promoting drug use on social media.
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