Number Of Drug Addicts Research Articles

PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE AND CAREER PLANNING

Chemical dependency is a public health problem, a disease that causes damage in several areas of the life of the subject who uses psychoactive substances. These losses may involve, in addition to health issues, family, school, financial and work aspects. The treatment of chemical dependency aims at social reintegration and this process is still a challenge for the population that suffers from this disease. Work is an activity of paramount importance in the lives of human beings and unemployment, for chemically dependent people, can aggravate their social exclusion. The absence of work possibilities is constant in subjects in a situation of dependence, since the difficulties of managing daily responsibilities alongside chemical dependence often culminate in breaking the bond with work. Bearing in mind that the number of drug addicts in Brazil and in the world is growing and that work occupies a central place in people’s lives, interventions that allow the rescue of social insertion through work can be assertive to prevent relapse in the treatment. Given the above, the present study is qualitative, descriptive and observational. The objective of this study was to identify the importance of a Professional Orientation and Career Planning process in the treatment of institutionalized chemical dependents. The study included 6 men over 18 years old, who were hospitalized in a Hospital Complex in Mental Health, located in the city of Canoas/Rio Grande do Sul. Data were collected through workshops focused on Professional Guidance and Career Planning that addressed self-knowledge and training of these individuals for stages of selection processes. The analysis of the collected data was carried out in the light of a thematic analysis. The results indicate that the process of professional guidance and career planning carried out contributed to the treatment of participants by promoting mental health, helping in the treatment of chemical dependence and serving as a strategy in preventing relapse. New studies on the subject are suggested through interventions carried out in Therapeutic Communities (TC), since the length of stay is longer.

Adapting Adult Education towards Advancement of Moral Values Inculcation in Nigeria

Based on data from BNK Semarang in 2015, the number of drug addicts in the city of Semarang was 1.9%, while there were 40 rehabilitation centers for drug addicts in the city of Semarang, both hospitals, social institutions, and Islamic boarding schools. The partner of Semarang City is the At-Tawhid Islamic Boarding School which is a place to rehabilitate drug addicts. The aims of this study are (1) to find out the therapeutic models of drug addicts in Islamic boarding schools (2) to determine the supporting and inhibiting factors for the implementation of social therapy in Islamic boarding schools, (3) to determine the length of time for drug addict’s student recovery in Islamic boarding schools. The research approach used in this research is a qualitative approach. The tools and data collection of this research are observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The results showed that the social therapy carried out by the Rehabilitation Islamic Boarding School was effective in rehabilitating drug addicts. The application of social therapy using a medical approach, classification of student room placements for drug addicts, religious education, personality development, effective social community by rehabilitating drug addicts recovering from the influence of drugs. Suggestions in this study are drug addict students should be able to control the desire to use drugs by increasing their dhikr activities.

ADOLESCENT DRUG ADDICTION IN UKRAINE: SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS. Review

Relevance. The relevance is determined by the danger of drug addiction among Ukrainian adolescents, and the lack of attention by parents to the study of this problem, and the lack of proper attention to this issue in most Ukrainian schools. Currently, the main social and psychological aspects that motivate modern Ukrainian adolescents to use drugs have not been sufficiently identified and studied.
 Objective: to identify the dominant psychological and social factors that motivate Ukrainian adolescents to start using drugs.
 Methods. Analysis of publications from scientometric electronic databases by keywords. Search depth - 18 years (2001-2018).
 Results. The social factors that influence the spread of adolescent drug addiction in Ukraine include the decline in the general standard of living in the country over the past 25-30 years; mass unemployment among the population, lack of life prospects for a large part of the country's population; the spread of the AIDS epidemic among the population (the number of drug addicts among HIV-infected reaches 80%); the growth of crime in modern Ukrainian society and the associated availability of drugs. Also, the indifference of modern Ukrainian society to the existing problem; the absence of a state program to prevent the spread of drugs among adolescents with the mandatory registration of new drug addicts, and the presence in the high school curriculum of special lessons that explain the essence of the problem and ways to solve it.
 Factors of a psychological nature that affect the spread of adolescent drug addiction in Ukraine include: inattention of parents to this problem, lack of preventive work in families to reverse trends in drug use by adolescents; bad microclimate in the families of adolescent drug addicts, the indifference of parents to children's problems; alcoholism of parents in the families of young drug addicts; the example of friends who started using drugs at a young age; the desire of adolescents to try new sensations; the inability of adolescents to understand for themselves the harm that drugs can potentially do to them and their organism.
 Conclusions. Problems in families are a major reason for modern children to use drugs.

Assessment of the dental status of drug-addicted patients with parafunction of the dental-jaw apparatus

The number of drug addicts in the world is growing every year. The aim of the study was to assess the dental status of drug-addicted patients with parafunction of the dental-jaw apparatus. We used clinical, analytical, functional and histological research methods. 119 drug-addicted and 110 non-drug-dependent patients aged 18 to 54 were examined. In order to confirm the presence of parafunctions of the dental-jaw apparatus in patients, we conducted an occludogram study, as well as an assessment of the index of parafunctions of the masticatory muscles and the degree of their severity. The structure of tooth tissues was examined by histological method. Examination of drug-addicted patients revealed the presence of numerous carious cavities, secondary adentia, enamel erosion, pathological abrasion, signs of gingivitis and periodontitis, tooth chipping. The prevalence of parafunction of the dental-jaw apparatus, in particular bruxism, in drug-addicted patients is 1.56 times higher than this figure among non-drug addicts. The results of the occludogram and the index of parafunctions of the masticatory muscles differ significantly between the study groups. The mean value of the masticatory muscle parafunction index among drug-addicted patients is 2.06 times significantly higher than the value among non-drug-addicted men and 2.03 times higher among women. Histological examination of the tooth tissues of drug-addicted patients indicates a disorder of the mineralization of both enamel and dentin. Thinning of the peripheral zone of the pulp, which is normally represented by a layer of odontoblasts, which provide regeneration and nutrition of dentin, is more common in persons under 25 years of age. Drug use adversely affects the dental status of patients and the condition of the hard tissues of the tooth.

Structural and Functional State of Erythrocyte Membranes at Drug Addiction

The steady growth in the number of drug addicts, especially among young people, dictates the need to find ways to prevent and treat this disease. In this regard, there is a need for a more detailed study of the mechanisms of the course of this disease using modern research methods, such as atomic force microscopy and fluorescence analysis of amino acid residues. Purpose of the work: to reveal the structural and functional state of erythrocyte membranes in drug addiction. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out on the erythrocyte membranes of 60 subjects suffering from heroin addiction. The shape and topography of the erythrocyte surface were studied, and spectral analysis of the proteins of the erythrocyte membranes was carried out. Results. The conducted AFM studies of erythrocyte membranes indicate the heterogeneity of the surface mechanical properties of the erythrocyte membranes of drug addicts. The data obtained indicate an acceleration of the aging process of erythrocytes in drug addiction, which goes in two ways: the formation of outgrowths on the plasmolemma, which subsequently die off (echinocytes) and invagination of the plasmolemma of erythrocytes (spherocytes). The fluorescence spectrum of amino acids in erythrocytes of drug addicts is characterized by a significant decrease in the intensity of almost all peaks and a shift of the fluorescence peak to the short-wave region. Findings. With drug addiction, changes in the structural integrity of red blood cells are noted. In people with drug addiction, in comparison with healthy people, there is a higher variability of the morphology of erythrocytes, which is expressed in a significant increase in the proportion of echinocytes and spherocytes against the background of a significant decrease in the number of discocytes. For the membrane proteins of erythrocytes of drug addicts, conformational changes are characteristic, manifested in a decrease in the intensity of fluorescence of aromatic amino acids, which indicates their structural modification and significant vulnerability of the hematopoietic system. They are largely determined by changes in the fluorescence intensity of tryptophan and, to a lesser extent, tyrosine, which indicates the preservation of the three-dimensional structure of the protein.

Influence of migration processes on the state of crime in the sphere of illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

The article analyzes in detail the impact of migration processes on crime in the field of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. and conclusions about the increase in the number of drug addicts, The article also examines the impact of international migration on drug and psychotropic substance trafficking crimes, as well as the types of drug-related crimes coming from Asian countries, analyzes world reports as a percentage of the year, the international community has learned to assess and analyze the damage caused by these crimes through timely monitoring, as well as the impact of migration on the growth of this type of crime and the importance of preventing these crimes.

Psychoeducation as a component of psychosocial rehabilitation of patients with drug addiction

The problem of drug addiction is one of the most pressing for both health care and society as a whole. At this time, the consumption of psychoactive substances has spread in all countries. The past decade has been characterized by a deteriorating drug situation in our country as well. According to some sources, the number of drug addicts has increased to 3.5 million people in recent years. A comprehensive clinical, psychopathological and psychodiagnostic examination of 110 men was conducted. All examined patients received comprehensive therapy with pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, patients of the main group (75 people) in the complex treatment measures included a specially designed psychoeducational program, the control group consisted of 35 people. The principles of psychoeducation of addicted patients are the patient's awareness of the disease, analysis of their own personal characteristics and peculiarities of self-perception in society; formation of the patient's motivation for treatment; development of coping skills; correction of addictive behavior patterns. The effectiveness of the developed comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with drug addiction with psychoeducation was carried out in comparison with traditional measures based on the assessment of the dynamics of clinical-psychopathological and pathopsychological features of patients and quality of life. The follow-up was 12 months. Keywords: psychoeducation, drug addiction, drug addiction, rehabilitation.

Теоретические и практические аспекты профилактической работы в борьбе с наркоманией

The aim of the work is to study the theoretical and practical aspects of the emergence of drug addiction, types of preventive work in the fight against drug addiction, the peculiarities of its spread among adolescents. An assessment of the development of the drug situation in the Tambov Region for 2019 is given. According to the totality of criteria, the situation in the region is tense. The most difficult state is noted according to the following criteria: the proportion of drug-related crimes in the total number of registered criminal acts (“pre-crisis”); involvement of drug users in drug trafficking (“heavy”); criminality of drug addiction (“satisfactory”); the proportion of persons convicted of drug-related crimes in the total number of convicted persons (“heavy”); the proportion of young people in the total number of persons convicted of drug offenses (“tense”). The drug market of the Tambov Region is represented by synthetic drugs and their analogues, drugs of the cannabis group (marijuana, hashish), heroin. The main methods of the preventive fight against drug addiction in the Tambov Region are listed. Presumptive trends in drug trafficking associated with the use of “non-contact” methods of selling drugs, further merging of drug-related crime with cybercrime, involvement of non-drug users in drug trafficking, as well as an increase in the number of drug addicts among minors are indicated.

TRENDS IN THE MODERNIZATION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW RESPONSE TO DRUG CRIME

The paper deals with the problem of countering the illicit drug trafficking, psychotropic substances, their precursors and analogues in the Eurasian Economic Union countries. The authors, basing on the statistical data analysis, demonstrated an increase in the number of drug addicts; it is shown that drug addiction is a global problem nowadays. The constant increase of registered criminal acts related to drugs and their cross-border nature make it necessary to develop cooperation in combating the illicit distribution of drugs, harmonizing and unifying legal norms in this area, especially within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union. A comparative legal analysis of the criminal law governing liability for drug trafficking in the EAEU countries shows the diversity of legislative structures in the key elements of the crimes under consideration. The issues of personal non-medical use liability, the subject of crimes, the criminalization of individual acts related to drug trafficking, should be the subject of discussion on developing a unified approach of criminal law to counter the analyzed crimes in the EAEU countries.

Impact of Drug Abuse on the Relationship with Families in India

The problem of drug abuse in a young generation has assumed alarming dimensions in India. Changing cultural values, increasing economic stress and weaken family supportive bonds are leading to initiation into drug abuse. India too is caught in this vicious circle of drug abuse, and a number of drug addicts are increasing day by day. Drugs such as heroin and marijuana are common in the Indian context. Impacts of drug abuse among drug abusers resulting in social problems, including family trouble and criminal behavior. Day by day the family relationships are rupturing with the usage of drugs in our society. It is a serious and alarming matter of concern for the society and for researchers’. In the present study, the researcher focuses on the impact of drugs on family relations.

Atividade física como estratégia no processo de reabilitação psicossocial de dependentes químicos

Objetivo: Identificar quais benefícios que a atividade física pode oferecer como estratégia no processo de reabilitação psicossocial de um dependente químico e os efeitos produzidos por ela sobre o indivíduo. Metodologia: revisão sistemática integrativa, tendo como base de dados os artigos encontrados no google acadêmico no período de 2006 a 2015. Resultados e discussão: Estudos demonstram que a prática de atividade física regular traz diversos benefícios, não somente para saúde física, mas principalmente para saúde mental. Sabemos também que o número de dependentes químicos cresce alarmantemente em nossa sociedade e já é considerado um quadro epidêmico. Pode-se destacar os efeitos da atividade física como estratégia no processo de reabilitação de dependentes químicos e identificar como a prática de atividade física está sendo discutida como fator protetivo no processo de reabilitação. Conclusão: Enseja-se por meio desta análise, que os resultados possam direcionar a aplicação da atividade física de forma mais efetiva no tratamento de dependentes químicos. Conclui-se que os artigos apontam para a importância significativa no tratamento, uma vez que esta possibilita a melhora das condições de saúde e de qualidade de vida, entre outros.

Drug and Substance Abuse: A Rampant Issue?

Background: Transformasi Nasional 2050 (TN50), a new initiative of Malaysia to take the country to greater heights in 2050 would be strenuous if drug abuse among the younger generation in the country is becoming a serious concern. The upward trend recorded involves primary and secondary school children and also students from institutions of higher learning would disrupt the resilience of human capital of a nation. Thus, the increase in the number of drug addicts among youth and social problems relating to drugs which are on the rise is worrisome and needs to be curbed. Objective: This preliminary study is conducted to highlight factors such as knowledge on drugs, environment, lifestyle and law awareness of drugs are of importance that may have impact on drug and substance abuse among college students. Results:270 samples from seven (7) colleges were collected of which about 53 per cent of the respondents are female and the remainder 47 per cent is male. The reliability test of Cronbach alpha scored a highly preferable value of 0.788. Using a binary logistic regression analysis, four of the independent variables i.e. parent’s marital status and estimated family’s income are found to be significant at 5 per cent significance level. On the other hand, environment and law awareness are significant at 1 per cent and 5 per cent level of significance, respectively. Conclusion: This paper therefore concludes that marital status, family income, environment and law awareness are significant factors in explaining drug and substance abuse among youths.

Kepentingan Peristiwa Pencetus Dalam Transformasi Perspektif Bekas Penagih Dadah

This paper describes a preliminary analysis of the transformative perspective phenomenon of a former drug addict. The drug problem is the problem number one in Malaysia. The number of drug addicts is increasing tremendously every year. The government spent billions ringgit each year for the rehabilitation treatment for drug addicts. Drug problem is a global issues that needs to be curbed from its roots. Past studies on the transformation of former drug addicts perspective was not given attention by local scholar compare to the Western countries. Therefore, this study will explore the learning process of former drug addicts to return to a normal life. Trigger event is an important element in transformative learning. The process of transformative learning start from the triggering event. Therefore, this paper will focus on the role of a trigger event in helping to transform former drug addicts. This event will trigger the change of emotions, spiritual, physical, cognitive and also a change in perspective of former drug addicts and thus a change in behavior. The study found that trigger event is triggering personal reflection on the meaning scheme (meaning perspectives) of former drug addicts. Through it, people will throw negative meaning scheme which is an important element for the changes. This study used qualitative methods and selection of respondents is based on sampling purpose which it based on pre-defined criteria by researcher. Phenomenology and case studies are selected as design study in order to understand a phenomenon and the case study. The results show that individuals who suffering from trigger events are fully integrated in the transformation perspective process on drug addiction. Finally, this paper will conclude the important of trigger event towards transformative perspective among former drug users.

Drug abuse: Uncovering the burden in rural Punjab.

Introduction:Drug abuse is a global phenomenon, affecting almost every country, but its extent and characteristics differ from region to region. India too is caught in this vicious circle of drug abuse, and the numbers of drug addicts are increasing day by day. The bane of drug abuse in Punjab has acquired the proportions of a pestilence that has shaken the entire society in the state. It is observed that in Punjab “drug abuse” is a raging epidemic, especially among the young.Methodology:The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 adolescents and young adults (11–35 years) from 15 villages of Jalandhar District. Systematic sampling (probability proportionate to size) was used for the selection of study subjects. A preformed, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on type and frequency of drugs abused and other sociodemographic variables. The statistical evaluation of the data was performed using SPSS software, version 21.0.Results:The prevalence of substance abuse among study group was 65.5% and most common substance abused was alcohol (41.8%), followed by tobacco (21.3%). A high prevalence of heroin abusers was noted among study subjects (20.8%). The prevalence of nonalcohol and nontobacco substance abuse was 34.8%. A significant association of drug abuse was observed with male gender, illiteracy, and age above 30 years.Conclusions:The problem of drug abuse in youth of Punjab is a matter of serious concern as every third person is hooked to drugs other than alcohol and tobacco. The other striking observations were the high prevalence of heroin and intravenous drug abuse.

Drugs and the Early Soviet City: Mapping Cocaine, Opiates, and Cannabis in Petrograd/Leningrad in the 1920 s (Workshop Geschichte)

Introduction: The early Soviet period witnessed a substantial increase in the number of drug addicts and the proliferation of drugs into wider social strata. However, in contrast to popular contemporary 'black market' image of drugs, in the 1920 s cocaine and morphine were rather semi-legal ('gray market') substances, since the everyday practice of too many areas of public health greatly depended on the use of these medicines. In early Soviet Petrograd/Leningrad drugs were present on literally every corner: in most pharmacies, hospitals, dentist's rooms, maternity houses and other health care institutions. The city depended on very large amounts of cocaine and opiates, and indeed the regional office of medical supply and trade (Gubmedsnabtorg), located in the very center of Petrograd/Leningrad, accumulated tens of thousands of morphine ampules and hundredweights of opium for the needs of whole North-Western Russia.

Issues and Challenges of Drug Addiction among Students in Malaysia

The drug addiction problem is a global problem faced by all nations, and Malaysia was not exempted from this phenomenon. According to the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), Malaysia, among Southeast Asian nations, ranks fifth in the number of drug addicts. Almost 1.2 million Malaysians are drug addicts, a considerable number considering Malaysia’s population of 28.3 million. This paper discusses issues and challenges of drug addiction among students in Malaysia. In this context, there are many factors contributing to drug abuse among students, such as individual inclination to partake in drugs, family situation and their surroundings. The role of parents, teachers, schools, and law enforcement authorities in ensuring the reduction of drug addiction is important, as drug addicts needed support from their surroundings. In fact, the success or failure of a student to quit drug use is dependent on the strong support of his environment. Previous studies and theories discusses in this paper shows that all parties play an important role in resolving this problem.

Profile of Tunisian Population of Drug Addicts

Introduction In Tunisia, the number of drug addicts seems toincrease and this addiction is considered as a complex psychiatric disorderwith a chronic relapsing course. Objective to describe the socio-demographic and clinicalprofile of drug addict patients. Methods This consisted on a cross-sectional and descriptive study. Data were collected from the files of 30 men hospitalized at the drug abuse prevention center ‘ATUPRET ‘of Sfax in Tunisia, during the month of September and October 2014. Results The average age of patients was 33,6 years (19-59 years). They were single in 66.7%. Their school leveldidn’t exceed the secondary one in 80% of cases and they didn’t have any occupation in 30% ofcases. Theaverage age of onsetof drug use was21.3 years (14-52years) and the average duration of drug use was 11.9 years (1-43 years). Curiosity was the most commonly reported reasonfor initiating drug use (36, 7%). It was commonly a polytoxicomania (63%). The most widely used substances were cannabis (56, 7%) and subutex (46,7%). Nearly half of subutex addictsused to shoot it (42, 3%) and the average daily dose was 5, 28 mg. A comorbide affective disorder was found in16.7% of addict patients. Conclusion A young single men with no profession and a limitededucational attainment, such is the profile most frequently encountered amongdrug addicts in our study. Those social characteristics and the presence ofunderlying affective disorders should be considered in the management of suchpatients.

Drug abuse among the students

ABSTRACT:Drug abuse is the willful misuse of either licit or illicit drugs for the purpose of recreation, perceived necessity or convenience. Drug abuse is a more intense and often willful misuse of drugs often to the point of addiction. In the eastern world the incidence shows a decline or a static pattern but the number of drug addicts is still enormous.. The major drug of abuse are heroin and marijuana but designer drugs are shown to be on the increase. The aim of the study is to determine the ratio of the drug abuse in student. For this purpose we selected different institutions including “the university of Lahore”, “Forman Christian college”(private sector) and Punjab university(Govt sector) and conducted survey in 500 student. High proportion of students was found abusing drugs. From this study, we came across multiple factors which are the main cause of drug abuse in medical student including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, as well as personality disorder like antisocial personality disorder. The most commonly abused drugs include stimulants, opioids, and benzodiazepines, antihistamines. Although survey have indicated high rate of illicit and prescription drugs misuse among college students, few have assessed the negative consequences, personel concerns, or interest in intervention for drugs use. Drug abuse although regarded as a personality disorder, may also be seen as worldwide epidemic with evolutionary genetic, physiology and environmental influences Controlling and affecting human behavior. Globally, the use has reached all time high. The study showed males are more drug abusers as compared to females. The drug abuse ratio in students of private sector is more as compared to Govt sector.

The new pattern of drug abuse in China.

Drug abuse has resulted in a huge burden on public health and the economy in China. Since the reemergence of drug abuse in China in the 1980s, the number of drug addicts has increased dramatically, especially the proportion of users of synthetic drugs, such as amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS). Further, the proportion of opiate addicts has decreased among the new initiates. This review describes the new pattern of drug abuse and the resultant intervention strategy in China. The demographics regarding drug abuse in China point to a trend of younger users, and indicate that Internet and telephone are facilitating drug trafficking. Furthermore, polydrug use is common. Many heroin addicts have used ATS and other synthetic drugs, and some synthetic drug abusers have used opiate drugs too. HIV infection and psychosis comorbidity are primarily associated with drug abuse in China. Although opiate drug use and its associated harm have been controlled effectively in some areas, the synthetic drugs and new designer drugs have complicated the drug abuse scene. A national system of management and intervention for synthetic drugs and associated diseases urgently needs to be established in China.

Social representations of drugs among young Russians: shared common views and social positions

IntroductionFundamental ideas about human life are inevitably related to health and illness. In the modern world, health is an important value. On one hand health could be defined in terms of absolute values: it is important to be in good health. On the other hand, good health and a long lifespan are not the only objectives of human activity. Very often, people face situations where they completely ignore grave risks to their health because they are interested in achieving other goals, and a paradoxical situation appears: while people highly value their health, their behaviour does not correspond to this value. In order to overcome this contradiction, people develop some explanations of their behaviour which defy formal logic. This argument is in favour of theoretical models that allow for the analysis of commonsense knowledge in the domain of health and illness. The contradictions can coexist perfectly with this kind of knowledge.Health also could be defined in terms of instrumental values, because good health affords people many opportunities; for example, to be included in society, to work, to have family and friends etc., in other words to have a full and varied life.As paradoxical as it may seem, illness could be also seen as a kind of value. Of course, absolute or instrumental aspects could not be distinguished in this case, illness has another signification. An ill person has the right to not work temporarily and still receive a salary (albeit in a reduced form), as well as to obtain care from others and security from society. Thus, illness indicates the relationship between a person and society; it reveals the quality of life in society and it underlines the importance of a person to society.From the macro-psychological point of view on health and illness, it was shown that when the psychological state of society lowers, people adopt a more reckless attitude towards their health. This has been clearly demonstrated in the case of alcohol and drug consumption (Makropsihhologicheskoe..., 2009).A. V. Yurevich followed this line of analysis, which he applied to the actual state of Russian society. He pointed out that anomie plays an important role among the motives of suicide and also has direct relation to the depressing statistics of drug addiction, alcoholism, and accidents... (Yurevich, 2009, p. 76). According to statistics for 2011, the groups of registered drug addicts include the following: 1) the lion's share of addicts have an opioid dependence, and account for almost 85.6% of addicts; 2) people with a cannabis dependency account for 6.8%; 3) people who use other kinds of drugs in different combinations account for only 6.2%.At the same time, there are some indications which enable us to conclude that there has been an increase in overall cannabinoid addiction during the past six years. In 2005, cannabinoid addicts accounted for 15.4 out of every 100,000 people; by 2011 this number had risen to 16.1. It represents 4.5% growth in six years (Osnovnye..., 2012). At the same time, it should be taken into consideration that the past statistics on drug users are only the iceberg, because epidemiological estimates for the real prevalence of IDUs may be 4-5 times higher than the official ones. Moreover, in some regions of Russia, the number of drug addicts may be as high as 1-3% of the total population (Kirzhanova, 2009).The current situation highlights the importance of further scientific activity in order to create effective preventive measures that will target young people. Preventive programmes in the field of public health should be based on the results of socio-psychological studies on the problem (Gurvich, 1999). In this paper we propose that effective measures could be based on the results of studies which explore the representations theory (Moscovici, 1961). According to one of many definitions of this concept, theoretically social representations could be defined as commonsense knowledge about general topics (e. …