According to official data, there are over six million drug dependents in Russia, most of whom are young people. The most concerning aspect is the impact of this crisis on the younger generation, specifically 60% of drug dependents are aged between 16 and 30 years.
Included in the top 10 regions with the highest rates of 'drug addiction' diagnoses are the Khabarovsk Krai, Novosibirsk Oblast, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Krasnoyarsk Krai, and Sakhalin Oblast. A total of 378 thousand patients with mental and behavioral disorders associated with drug use are officially registered in Russia, of which over 223 thousand have been diagnosed with 'drug addiction'.
Against the backdrop of economic problems and increasing repression, drug addiction is turning into a threat to society as a whole. Experts note the weak response of the state to this issue and the lack of adequate preventive programs.
The widespread drug addiction in the Russian Federation is becoming a serious social crisis, especially considering the large number of young people who fall into this trap. Experts urge the government to respond more actively to the problem in order to implement effective preventive and treatment measures.