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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2005, 07, 4 (pages: 59 - 66)

Medical and social factors determining early poly-drug dependence

Chernobrovkina T. V., Igor A. Nikiforov I. A.

Summary: Adolescent narcotism has grown into an epidemic in Russia. Younger drug experimenters seem to run a higher risk of habitual involvement in drug use as a lifestyle, which also makes them liable to develop addictive diseases through enduring exposure to drugs. Moreover, polyabuse seems to be the rule among younger addicts, which increases the likelihood that physicians will have to deal with multiple addictive pictures, destined to a poor outcome and pervasive disruption. Upbringing, environmental ties and opportunities, economic status and family-related lifestyle may play a crucial role in supporting or discouraging a sensation-seeking lifestyle, although personality factors come first in establishing a risk disposition. In any case, on preventive grounds, the identification of stereotypes in drug user populations may offer a helpful means of impeding or reversing the transition from experimental drug use to habitual drug use and then addiction. The administration of a 20-item psychosocial questionnaire to a sample of 150 subjects aged between 7 and 18 helped us to ascertain the prevalence of social problems and drug use trends in a younger risk population. The handling of pleasure-seeking drives and needs by environmental facilities may reduce youngsters' interest in substance use and provide them with other kinds of practical, spiritual and pleasurable habits.