Drug addiction is an ever-increasing public health problem, even though it is increasingly camouflaged among other everyday issues.
There are a number of legal drugs, such as alcohol, which are taken for the purpose of having a good time and socializing. The problem with these drugs appears when they are taken to avoid problems, which is a clear warning sign.
The addiction to these substances is produced to find a situation of no pain, and not so much a sensation of pleasure. Such drugs are taken to stop thoughts and stop feeling. As the Foundation for Help Against Drug Addiction warns, it is one of the biggest public health problems today.
Drug use in the world
Since 2010 there has been a 22% increase in people taking drugs, with 275 million taking any in the last year. In addition, it is estimated that more than 36 million have serious problems due to its consumption.
This consumption has grown especially in developing countries, causing an increase in lethality and overdoses. This growth is due to a number of factors:
- Increase in population.
- Arrival of new generation of cheaper synthetic drugs.
- Expansion of opioid use.
- Increase in the potency of the substances.
Specifically in Europe, overdose deaths are around 8,500, a far cry from the 50,000 deaths caused by opioids in the United States.
According to the UN, the most popular drug worldwide is cannabis (200 million users), followed by opioids (62 million) and cocaine (20 million).
Why are drugs less of a concern than they used to be?
Currently, the population is more concerned about unemployment, corruption, the political situation or climate change, which leaves the problem of drug addiction in the background.
It is possible to get off drugs, although in order to do so, a different message than the current one must be used, beyond abstinence. When people think of drugs, they think of cocaine or some other kind of designer drug, but it is any substance that generates addiction.
In this sense, alcohol, as much as it is established in our daily lives, is also a drug, even if it is not perceived as a risk factor. The same is increasingly true of cannabis, which is a cause for concern. Other substances such as certain medications or even junk food can also be considered drugs.
Young people and drugs
The profile of drug addicts is increasingly younger. Nowadays, it is no longer shocking to find 13 or 14 year olds smoking before entering a classroom.
The negative message, full of prohibitions and limitations, is a mistake when it comes to preventing drug use. It is difficult to learn this way, so it is necessary to make it understood that drugs hook on the positive side. Because if the experience is unpleasant, no one would repeat it.
A good message is to talk about the addict as a loser, since he loses the important things in his daily life. And it is a matter of getting them back, so that they compensate for the renunciation.
Drugs are complicated to manage because, despite being considered as any disease, it is the only one in which the patient tries to do his best to make himself sicker.
For more information about drug addiction treatment, contact Dr. FÃ bregas Pedrell.