World Anti-DrugTransnational Internet contest - "Maya"

Questions

• 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 think the problem is that in our minds drug addicts are still not associated with sick people: for some of us they are representatives of the "golden" youth, for other they are criminal or outcasts. I am sure that situation will change, if we will treat them as seriously sick people. I know more than a dozen of former addicts. Of course, they have not fully integrated into the society. All of them are seriously ill (liver, heart) people, but they are former addicts and they live like everyone else do and, by the way, they do not like to talk about his "cocaine" past ...

• In you opinion how important is parental education and relationships within the family in preventing drug addiction?

  Of course, the family plays a huge role in the prevention of drug addiction. Parents are responsible for their children. However, in our crazy times, it is difficult for parents to find enough time for their children. And yet, you will agree, drug addicts from the so-called well-off families are rather exception than the rule.

• 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 think it is necessary to use a variety of methods to combat drug abuse in the different web sites. If teens will constantly see anti-drug advertisings - many of them will learn that drugs are harmful. If drug addict will be portrayed as sick and feeble person, it is unlikely that young people will find this image appealing. Anti-drug propaganda should be carried out in elementary school. Children should be involved in sports, especially disadvantaged areas.