Drug addiction in Russia: prevalence, characteristics, trends, struggle and prevention

By the end of the 80s in Russia, along with the actual problem of alcoholism, a new problem arose-drug addiction. Unfortunately, drug addiction has affected not only adults, but also children, adolescents, youth. It should be noted that drug addiction, after criminality, is on the second place on the problem importance in our country. People becoming addicted become more and more.

Statistics of the prevalence of drug dependence in Russia

In Russia, the statistics of addiction is disappointing. In 2012, the State Drug Control Service counted 3 million people in our country who regularly use drugs. And, 18 million people, at least once had experience of their use. In recent years, the death rate related to people's narcotization has increased almost tenfold, infant mortality has increased 45 times. One addict for his "experience" is able to draw into the circle of narcotization up to 10 - 17 people.

Addiction "becomes younger" in Russia. Most drug addicts acknowledge the fact of the first use of the drug before the age of 15.Unfortunately, only 2 years after the first acquaintance with the child's drug, the vast majority of parents learn that their child is a drug addict. Drug addiction in full bloom and take something by parents is already too late. Those who regularly use drugs, on average, live four and a half years. And some even less, die at the very beginning of drug dependence on overdoses and other things.

Drug dealers remove fabulous profits from the sale of narcotic drugs. Revenues are laundered through the opening of market places, cafes, shops, restaurants and other things. Interpol estimates the world turnover of the drug business annually as 650 billion dollars.

Features of addiction in Russia

In the late eighties there was an increase in drug addiction in our country. Probably Gorbachev's "dry law" played into the hands of the spread of drug addiction in Russia. Alcohol was replaced with potent drugs. The totalitarian regime of the Soviet era was destroyed. Many bans and outside influence, sometimes unhealthy, from foreign countries have been lifted, have made their antisocial contribution to changing the life of society. By the end of the 1980s, drug trafficking communities had been formed in Russia, and drug trafficking annually amounted to about 500 tons.

In 1991, democratization of Russia began, administrative and criminal liability for the use and storage of substances of narcotic origin for personal purposes was abolished. A single dose of heroin became ten times cheaper and ten times more affordable. In 1991, five teenagers per 100,000 residents were placed in narcological clinics. It is clear that increasing the availability and reducing the cost of drugs has caused an increase in the number of drug addicts.

In 1996, a shift in drug use began in favor of the more expensive ones - heroin, opium. In 1997, drugs were sold at school, metro, on the market, in institutions, at discotheques.

Russia took some 5 years to enter the world drug market. Now Russia is one of the five largest exporters and producers of synthetic drugs.

In 2000 there was an increase in underage drug addicts. Now the lower age of the addict is 13 years old. Complex criminal situation, increased risk of infection with viral hepatitis, HIV infection further exacerbates the problem of drug addiction.

Addiction is a disease of society affecting a particular social group, it affects the entire society.

Trends and characteristics of drug addiction in Russia

1. Availability of drugs, the growth of the drug market.
2. Increased rate of narcotization among children and adolescents.
3. Expanding the range of choice of narcotic substances.
4. Increased availability of heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs.
5. The emergence of polydrug use( combined use of two or more drugs).
6. No fear and barriers to addiction.
7. Growth in the number of girls among drug addicts( feminization of drug addiction).
8. The origin of drug addicts is not only from the dysfunctional family.
9. Educational programs aimed at preventing drug addiction are not entirely correct and contradictory.
10. Measures to combat drug addiction are not widespread enough and adapted to the conditions of Russia.
11. Myths about incurable addiction aggravate the situation of drug addicts.
12. Inefficiency, inadequacy and untimeliness of medical care for drug addicts.
13. Transferring full responsibility for the problems of youth and adolescent drug addiction only to law enforcement agencies.
14. The developed program of treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts is aimed exclusively at the social structure, in which there are mentally unhealthy people and criminal elements.

Combating drug addiction in Russia

Addiction in Russia is an unresolved problem. There are no working methods for eradicating it, even if it is suspended. American and European experience, in terms of the democratization of society, as well as answers in solving this incredibly complex problem does not find. But in states with a totalitarian regime: Singapore, Malaysia, China - the problem of drug addiction is solved at the expense of the imposed death penalty for any manipulation of narcotic drugs.

In our country, instability in the economy, led to a decline in the standard of living of the vast majority of the population, business activity is reduced, unemployment, lack of prospects led to social depression. However, in parallel, the media promotes standards of lack of modesty, luxury, transcendental standards of well-being. We are told about the overseas vacations of stars on star-studded villas, about golden toilets. This forms in young people care in the world of narcotic illusions and permissiveness.

Prevention of drug addiction in Russia

Prevention should be based on a holistic and consolidated information strategy aimed at preserving youth's health as the main factor in the well-being of the individual.

Now in Russia, few people believe the effectiveness of drug control and other departments in this area. In fact, their work to eradicate drug addiction is carried out, only it is not effective, and banal obstacles reduce all their efforts to naught.

In order to eradicate drug addiction, it is necessary to unite state and public efforts. And, it may be necessary to take into account the successful work experience in countries with a totalitarian regime and with a death sentence for manipulating drugs for non-medical purposes.