ITO 2026 speakers highlight family, faith and human connection in confronting addiction

Andreea Ogăraru, a mother of six, and Dr Radu Țincu, a senior physician in Intensive Care and Toxicology at Bucharest’s Floreasca Emergency Clinical Hospital, spoke with participants at the 2026 International Meeting of Orthodox Youth ( ITO 2026 ).

The event took place on Tuesday evening at the National Cathedral in Bucharest and was broadcast live by Trinitas TV, including on the Romanian Patriarchate television station’s Facebook page and YouTube channel . The theme of the discussion was Youth and Family in Today’s Society.

The speakers emphasised that substance and behavioural addictions can arise from the desire to fill a profound emotional void.

“They are searching for something that will satisfy that hunger for love and meaning,” Andreea Ogăraru said of people struggling with addictions.

Families should keep their children close On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the first conference of the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth, Andreea Ogăraru, mother of six children, spoke about family values. Photo: Lumina Newspaper / Mircea Popa “For a family to have a chance of keeping its children close, it has to stay close to them. You have to hold your child for as…