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?

  It is better addressed this question to the doctors. As far as I know, the same situation can be observed with people suffering from alcoholism. Here, the main principle is patients’ confidentiality. I am sure that records in the medial card are not so important. The main thing is how he / she behave in the society.

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

  This is the most important and basic direction! It is necessary to support the family in the treatment of "misguided," addicts. Public support programs should specialize not on addicts but on their families.

• 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?

  Internet is just a tool. It is important not to overestimate its role. We need to understand that in different societies, the role of online communities is different. In Russia, online communities still have a relatively weak effect on the socio-political processes. I do not see prospects for the use of information control methods in fighting drug abuse.

  The state has two choices: the first –severe and cruel method of punishment for any activity pertaining to the illegal distribution of drugs (which in Russia is not possible in medium term time). The second- liberalization of soft drugs and simultaneous propaganda of the negative image of people who use drugs. Illegal drug trafficking is associated with the crisis of democracy in the modern world. Without major changes in this area it is not real to expect an effective results in the fight against illegal drug trafficking. The modern democratic state does not have the resources to effectively combat drug addiction. Modern business culture denies charity and patronage. Thus only government has resources to organize preventive programs and promote healthy lifestyle.