Drug Addiction: Problems of Counteraction

Drug addiction is examined as a negative social phenomenon and the problems of counteracting drug addiction. It has been determined that people have been using drugs since ancient times; however, they were used for medical, religious, cultural, and recreational purposes. This phenomenon has changed with the development of society, science, and medicine, and today it has become a significant issue of drug dependency. Today, drug addiction is not only a medical problem but also a complex social phenomenon that has profound consequences for society and encompasses various areas of life: cultural, economic, legal, familial, and psychological. Considering all these factors, there arose a necessity for control over the spread of drugs, and primarily, this involved the adoption of laws that would restrict their use. At the beginning of the 20th century, the international community recognized drug control as a global problem. This was highlighted at the first international conference on this issue, which took place in 1909 in Shanghai. The international control system developed gradually, starting in 1912 with the adoption of the International Opium Convention. In 1961, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was adopted, followed by the Convention on Psychotropic Substances in 1971, and in 1988, the UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances was adopted. It has been noted that considering the danger of the spread of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their negative health consequences, Ukraine ratified the aforementioned conventions and adopted anti-drug legislation in 1995, which also introduced criminal liability for illegal handling of narcotic drugs and precursors. Additionally, Ukraine initiated the organization of comprehensive counteraction to drug addiction and drug trafficking. Measures aimed at counteracting drug addiction have been reviewed. It is concluded that drug addiction, as a social phenomenon, poses a serious threat to the stability and development of society, and therefore counteracting this evil is a primary task for every state. Counteraction to drug addiction and drug trafficking in Ukraine includes a wide range of measures–from legislative regulation to the implementation and improvement of law enforcement activities and prevention, thus requiring attention at all levels–from individual to state. The resolution of this issue is only possible through the unification of efforts by the authorities, public organizations, and society. Despite significant successes, the fight against drugs remains a complex task that requires constant refinement of approaches and international cooperation.