Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin is a pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991. Throughout his career, he has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide. He is the founder of the Ricky Martin Foundation (in Spanish Fundación Ricky Martin), a non-profit charity organization aimed at human trafficking.
Questions
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Doctors tend not to talk about "recovered drug addicts," and prefer the term "inactive addicts" those who dont use drugs right at given moment. In your opinion, is it not possible to get rid of this label? Even in the opinion of drug treatment experts, patients remain forever addicted. How can the modern society be taught to have an adequate attitude toward former drug addicts and consider them as a part of the society?
I believe that personal example is the best way of teaching. We must show people that former addicts can live a full life and that there is no reason for their segregation. We have to show real stories of how drug addicts overcome their illness and continue to live. The more emotional these stories will be, the better, because people tend to feel rather than to think. -
In you opinion how important is parental education and relationships within the family in preventing drug addiction?
Here in Puerto Rico's family values are above all, and it also implies respect and reverence for older generation. Young people rely on elders’ experience and listen to what they say. Some people may consider such approach as too conservative, but this social order works perfectly and helps to avoid many problems. So, I think that family and education are very important factors in shaping the consciousness of young people.
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What should be in the Internet age and growth of online communities informational methods to combat drug addiction? What do you think, what means will be most effective today, and how the state should behave in order to successfully affect the suffering of drug addiction and to conduct prevention among healthy population?
I believe that it is necessary to disseminate information about the dangers of drugs, but it should be in a form understandable for users of social networks and virtual societies. If people who visit these websites don’t not understand the thing then what is the sense of publishing information? I am not an expert in media and I cannot suggest specific actions that the government should take, but I'm sure that it is necessary to show people the horror of drug addiction - not only the physical aspects of drug use, but also social and psychological ones. When I told the public that I am gay, it was a hard time for me both socially and psychologically. Everybody I used to know suddenly turned their backs on me. Drugs are destructive, and we have to show people this side.
