THE PROBLEM OF DRUG ADDICTION AND ALCOHOLISM AMONG STUDENTS ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

This article examines such a phenomenon as alcoholism and drug addiction among students, in particular, what social ideas about alcohol and drugs the student youth of the city of Belgorod has, how widespread this problem is. The article is also filled with the results of a sociological study conducted by a student of the Belgorod State National Research University for a complete study of the problem.

Keywords: youth, student environment, drug addiction, alcoholism, youth problems, prohibited substances, alcohol, drugs.

Introduction.  Alcoholism and drug addiction are one of the most serious and intractable problems threatening the whole of humanity.

The abuse of alcoholic beverages and drugs has a huge impact on the socio-economic, spiritual and moral foundations of the life of society and the state. It is especially important to study the problem of the spread of alcoholism and drugs among young people, because they are our future and the further development of the country as a whole depends on them.

Methodology and methods. Many scientists have been and continue to study alcoholism and drug addiction among young people, while identifying the causes of such abuse, as well as describing the consequences that affect the health of a young person. Among them: S.V. Berezin K. Lisetsky [1], B. Bratus [2], N. Sirota, V. Yaltonsky [3] and others.

After studying all the scientific papers, a program was compiled and a sociological study "The problem of drug addiction and alcoholism among students" was conducted. The study was conducted among students of the socio-theological Faculty of the National Research University "BelSU", where 100 students took part.

The object of the study was the youth of the Institute of Social Sciences and Mass Communications aged 17 to 30 years, the study was representative by gender, course. The study was conducted by the method of a mass online survey.

 Research Results and Discussion. In the course of the study, the following results were obtained:

1) Firstly, the majority of students consume alcohol, and only 8% of respondents do not drink this drink at all (Figure 1). But still, most people drink only on holidays (45% of respondents chose), which indicates the awareness of young people.

Figure 1. Distribution of answers to the question: "Do you drink alcohol and if you do, how often?"

2) Statistics on drug use differ from alcohol consumption by young people. The majority of the surveyed students have never tried drugs – 72%, and those who have tried, use them more on holidays – 23%, and less often, once a month – 5%. One of the reasons for this difference lies in the fact that alcohol is allowed in the country, it is officially taxed. Young people who have reached the age of majority can safely buy alcohol. Therefore, in their social perceptions, alcoholic beverages are less dangerous than drugs, since they are still legalized and available.

3) Statistics show that alcohol consumption most often occurs on holidays, one of the reasons for this phenomenon lies in the fact that it is on such days that young people are looking for easy ways to relax, new sensations, they do not know what to do with themselves, how to cheer up and distract themselves from various kinds of problems (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Distribution of answers to the question: "What do you think are the reasons that push young people to use alcohol/drugs?"

4) It should be noted that the motives for the use of drugs and alcohol in the student environment vary, although they are similar. The reason for this is the more acute attitude of young people to drugs, although alcohol does no less harm. Thus, the main motives for drinking alcohol were mainly stress relief, the desire to relax and the conviviality of the situation (48% each), the second place among the motives was the answer – "to be like everyone else in this company, for the company" (30% chose it) of respondents. The students identified the main motives for drug use as: the search for new and exciting sensations (58%), the desire to escape from reality (46%), stress relief, the desire to relax (39%), curiosity (28%).

5) It was important to find out to what extent the students are familiar with the problem of drug addiction and alcoholism and whether they consider it a problem. The results indicate that 46% of respondents are fully familiar with the problem, only 2% are not familiar, and 4% have never been interested. This suggests that students are still thinking about the problem of alcoholism and drug addiction and are aware of the negative consequences.

Conclusions. After conducting the study, a positive trend can be identified: modern student youth is conscious and conscious. It cannot be said that students do not drink alcohol and prohibited substances at all, but the percentage of such is small. Basically, alcohol is present in the lives of young people only on holidays, and drugs are not present at all. It should also be noted that students fully understand the consequences of alcoholism and drug addiction, they know that frequent consumption leads to addiction and a negative impact on mental and physical health.

References:

1. Berezin, S.V. Prevention of adolescent and youth drug addiction [text] / monograph / S.V. Berezin, K.S. Lisetsky. Samara: Publishing House "Samara University", 2002, – 206p.
2. Bratus, B.S. Psychology, clinic and prevention of early alcoholism [text] / B.S. Bratus, P.I. Sidorov – M.: Publishing House of Moscow State University, 1984. – 144p.
3. Sirota, N.A. Prevention of drug addiction and alcoholism [Text] : textbook. manual for students. higher. studies. institutions / N.A. Sirota, V.M. Yaltonsky. – M.: Publishing center "Academy", 2003. – 176 p.
4. Johnston, L. D., Miech, R. A., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., Schulenberg, J. E., Patrick, M. E. (2021). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use 1975-2020: Overview, key findings on adolescent drug use. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.