Drug addiction

Drug addiction is a disease caused by the systematic use of drugs, manifesting as psychological and physical dependence on them. It is a severe illness that begins with the accidental (or under influence, pressure) use of a drug, followed by the formation of drug addiction. The problem of drug addiction has long become a global issue.

• Drug is a chemical agent that causes stupor, coma, or insensitivity to pain. Drugs refer to any narcotic substances prohibited by law, regardless of their origin. Drugs are narcotic substances, psychotropic substances, or their analogues.

• According to statistics, the primary age for first contact with narcotic substances is 11-14 years old (41%) and 15-17 years old (51%). This mainly involves smoking marijuana and hashish, and consuming alcohol with medications.

REASONS for drug use:

1. Curiosity: "I have to try everything!"

2. Desire to be like a "cool guy," an older authoritative friend, often influenced by parents' personal example, etc.

3. Desire to be "bad" in response to constant pressure from parents: "Do this, be good." This can also be a way to attract attention.

4. Idleness.

Signs of use of the most common psychoactive substances

Type of psychoactive substance	Direct signs of use		Indirect signs of use
	Effect on a person	Behavior
Marijuana, "Spice"	Reddening of the face, dilated pupils, dry mouth, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, increased appetite, thirst, craving for sweets	Fits of laughter, cheerfulness, which can be replaced by anxiety, fear, pronounced need to move, feeling of "weightlessness," uncontrollable talkativeness, altered perception of space, time, sound, color	Presence of hand-rolled cigarette butts, heavy herbal "odor" from clothing, frequent sharp, unpredictable mood swings
Opium, heroin,  desomorphine	Pale skin, constricted pupils, weak reaction to light, low blood pressure	Lethargy or torpor (half-closed eyelids, immobility, nodding off, unresponsive to external stimuli), "fetal position," sleep disturbances (insomnia at night, prolonged sleep in the morning)	Track marks on arms, hands, legs; presence of syringes, needles, soot-stained spoons; clothing burnt by cigarettes; long-sleeved clothing; weight loss; slovenliness; unhealthy appearance; disappearance of money and valuables; loss of former interests; mood swings; various illegal activities; dishonesty
Amphetamine, cocaine	Pale tip and wings of the nose and mucous membranes, sometimes facial redness, dilated pupils, conjunctivitis, elevated blood pressure, rapid pulse, elevated temperature, increased appetite	State of heightened activity, self-confidence, excitement, rapid speech, mania, anger	Presence of small bags with residue of white powder, insomnia, increased fatigue alternating with unexplained activity, frequent sharp, unpredictable mood swings.
Ecstasy	Facial redness, dilated pupils, elevated blood pressure, rapid pulse, increased appetite, elevated temperature, sweating, heart rhythm disturbances, loss of appetite	State of blissful happiness, feeling of emotional closeness and love for others, increased activity, need for constant movement	Presence of multi-colored pills or capsules, consumption of large amounts of liquid during the "high," causeless depression, sleep disturbances.

   

 Due to drug use, dependent individuals have a very high risk of contracting AIDS, venereal diseases, and hepatitis, and an equally high possibility of spreading them.

    It is impossible to combine drugs and study, therefore, young people drawn into drug addiction quickly become maladjusted in society, get involved in crime, lose their families, and become potentially dangerous to others.

Prevention is the best method for combating drug addiction. As global practice shows, no more than 2-3 percent of those affected by drug addiction are successfully cured. This means that preventing drug addiction is easier than curing it. Today, there is an urgent need to promote a healthy lifestyle to combat drug addiction. Medical professionals cannot cope with this alone. All mass media, which significantly shape public opinion, assist in this endeavor. Undoubtedly, the power and ingenuity that the press demonstrates in advertising goods for major commercial companies can also be used in the fight against drug addiction. Cooperation between the government, public organizations, and healthcare, charitable foundations for drug addicts and their relatives, religious organizations, citizen associations, clubs, and the involvement of educators and psychologists – all together can make a decisive contribution to localizing the hotbeds of the drug epidemic.

State Institution "Rossonsky RCGE", 2024.