Many countries around the world celebrate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The date was set by the UN General Assembly on December 7, 1987 to express its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of creating an international society free of drug abuse. This decision was made based on the recommendation of the 1987 International Conference on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The rapid spread of drugs is seen as a multi-level disaster, entailing a variety of harmful consequences - from a demographic catastrophe to the criminalization of the economy, social and political environment.
According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the number of drug users in the world has exceeded 300 million people.
At the global level, the most common drug is cannabis - this term combines all derivatives of hemp, such as marijuana, hashish and some others. It is consumed by 2.6% to 5% of the world's population. The second place is occupied by synthetic stimulant drugs of the amphetamine group - from 0.3 to 1.2%. Approximately 0.2-0.6% of the adult population of the Earth are somehow familiar with ecstasy - this word refers to a whole range of drugs of the same amphetamine group, and 0.6-0.8% are familiar with cocaine. Opioids, which primarily include heroin and substances similar in effects to it, were used at least once a year by 0.6 to 0.8% of people.
In a list of 43 risk factors - the leading causes of death in the world - drug use is in 19th place (alcohol is third and tobacco is second).
Globally, drug-related mortality is estimated to account for between 0.5% and 1.3% of all-cause mortality among persons aged 15–64 years. There are 211,000 drug-related deaths each year, with young people at greatest risk. Drug use is the sixth most common cause of death for people aged 15-49 years. In Europe, the average age of people who die from drug use is about 35 years.
In addition to drug-related mortality data, there are estimates that of the 14 million people in the world who inject drugs, 1.6 million are infected with HIV, 7.2 million are infected with hepatitis C virus, and 1. 2 million are infected with hepatitis B virus.
Drug abuse causes enormous harm to public health and public safety, and threatens the peaceful development and stable existence of society in many countries.
In economic terms, this is reflected in the costs of prevention and treatment, health care and hospital costs, and increased morbidity and mortality. It is estimated that only one in six problem drug users in the world receives the necessary treatment—that is, approximately 4.5 million people—and the global total cost of such treatment is approximately $35 billion per year.
People under the influence of drugs not only cause health care costs, but also pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of others and the environment.
Drug addiction is one of the most pressing health and social problems. According to Viktor Ivanov, director of the Federal Drug Control Service, there are eight million drug users in Russia who use drugs with varying degrees of regularity. Of these, four million are severely dependent and take drugs regularly.
The number of heroin addicts in Russia is , each of whom needs two doses per day. A third of them do not have money to buy drugs and obtain them by distributing them. In total, about one billion doses of heroin are sold throughout the year.
The average age of onset of drug use in Russia is 15-16 years, and the average age of those who die from drug-related diseases and overdoses is 30 years. At the same time, the bulk of drug users are outside the scope of medicine and relevant social services of the state - both federal and regional levels.
Drug consumption directly to the country, since eight million drug users spend 4.5 billion rubles on drugs every day and thereby withdraw up to one and a half trillion rubles from the country’s GDP annually. The actual annual damage to the country's economy is three times higher, at least four trillion rubles.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
Today, drug use is a universally recognized evil. Many countries are suffering from a real epidemic. On December 7, 1987, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution No. 42/112, in which it decided to observe June 26 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of creating an international society free from drug abuse. drug addiction.
In April 2016, the UN General Assembly held a Special Session on the drug problem in the world. This Special Session was an important milestone in achieving the goal set out in the policy document “Political Declaration and Plan of Action for International Cooperation towards a Comprehensive and Balanced Strategy to Combat the World Drug Problem.”
The outcome document provides recommended measures to reduce supply and demand and increase access to controlled medicines, thereby preventing their inappropriate use. The recommendations also cover the areas of human rights; children, youth, women and communities; new problems, including new psychoactive substances; strengthening international cooperation and sustainable development. The document places particular emphasis on proportionate national sentencing policies and practices in drug-related offences, and highlights the role of prevention and treatment.
In 2018, the International Day Against Drug Abuse will be held under the motto “Let us build our lives – our society – our individuals without drugs.”
Today, drug addiction has affected all countries of the world. According to the most approximate estimates of experts, from 3 to 4 percent of the world's inhabitants use drugs.
For Russia, the problem of drug addiction is a global threat to the health of the country's population. In Russia, over 560 thousand drug addicts are registered in drug treatment clinics. The total number of Russians who occasionally use drugs and psychotropic substances exceeds 8.5 million people, one and a half million of whom use heroin. More than 100 thousand Russians die from overdose every year. Any of the drugs destroys health, the addict “burns out” in 4-5 years. Dependence sometimes occurs after one or two doses.
The problem of drug addiction is one of the most pressing for both healthcare and society as a whole. This is due to the severe medical and social consequences of substance abuse, among which characteristic personality changes are in the first place. Negative medical consequences include: the presence of a number of somatic diseases in patients, the spread of HIV infection, viral hepatitis B and C, and premature mortality. A third of HIV-infected people received their virus from a syringe containing drugs.
The negative social consequences of drug addiction include: low percentage of employment, high frequency of criminal behavior and criminal records, disruption of family ties.
For Moscow region The problem of drug addiction is very acute. The average relative indicator of the general incidence of drug addiction in the Moscow region in 2017 decreased and amounted to 228.9 per 100 thousand population (in 2016 - 234.1 per 100 thousand population). In 2015, this figure reached its peak - 236.9 per 100 thousand population.
In 2017, the average relative rate of primary incidence of drug addiction decreased to 12.0 per 100 thousand population (in 2016 - 13.7 per 100 thousand population). In 2015, this figure reached its peak - 18.4 per 100 thousand population.
Average relative indicator of the overall incidence of substance abuse last years is decreasing, reaching 7.0 per 100 thousand population (in 2016 – 7.8 per 100 thousand population against 8.2 in 2015).
Leaders in the prevalence of drug addiction, whose indicators significantly exceed the regional average are the following municipalities: Orekhovo-Zuevo (591.2), Serpukhov (502.3), Noginsk (367.5), Serebryanye Prudy (366.8), Podolsk (331.4), Pavlovsky Posad (314.5), Shchelkovo (252.0).
Essentially indicators below the regional average in municipalities: Lotoshino (30.2), Stupino (74.2), Shakhovskaya (89.4), Bronnitsy (107.2), Volokolamsk (111.8), Solnechnogorsk (117.9).
In recent years, drugs have become “younger”. Cases of children aged 10-13 years becoming addicted to narcotic and toxic substances have become more frequent. The main drug users are young people under 30 years of age.
The goal of preventive anti-drug work should be to reduce the demand for drugs, primarily among young people. It is recommended to focus on information propaganda - talk more about the dangers of drugs and early detection, that is, testing. The main target of preventive work should be children under 12-14 years of age, and preventive work should be carried out both by teachers together with medical workers at school, and always by parents in the family.
According to Professor L.M. Roshal, “Drug addiction is a huge business that affects people and, above all, children. Family daily drug addiction prevention is necessary. Parents need to be clear about what kind of work to do with their children so that they can resist the temptation of the first puff. Our task is to counter the spread of drug addiction at all levels – from the family to the state.”
The main goal of prevention is to develop among the population and, especially among young people, an active life position of rejection of drug use for non-medical purposes. Children and youth should be discouraged from taking drugs through propaganda healthy image life, the formation of anti-drug attitudes, involvement in sports. Anti-smoking and anti-alcohol propaganda should be part of anti-drug propaganda, since drugs often follow smoking and alcohol consumption.
In order to increase awareness of the population, especially young people, about the harmful effects of drugs on the body, attracting the attention of government agencies and the public to the problem of drug addiction, the Moscow Regional Center for Medical Prevention (Branch for Medical Prevention of the State Autonomous Institution of Medical Sciences KTSVMiR) recommends organizing the following information and educational events in the municipalities of the Moscow region Events dedicated to International Day Against Drug Abuse:
- widely inform the population about the International Day combating drug addiction, including through the media;
- organize and conduct thematic seminars and conferences for doctors and paramedical workers;
- organize speeches by experts on the problem of drug addiction on radio and television;
- publish articles in the local press, highlight the topics of the International Day against Drug Abuse on Internet sites;
- use visual propaganda means, issue thematic information stands and sanitary bulletins in medical organizations;
- together with the sports committee, organize sports competitions under the motto “Sports against drugs”;
- organize mass events (health exercises, flash mobs, dance warm-ups) with the involvement of young people, incl. participants of public volunteer organizations whose activities are aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle, as well as in interaction with representatives of education, social protection, sports and youth policy, culture, and media persons;
- distribute thematic leaflets, leaflets, booklets.
Please submit a report on the activities carried out to the Moscow Regional Center for Medical Prevention (Branch for Medical Prevention of GAUZMO KTSVMiR) by email [email protected] by August 10, 2018.
The UN General Assembly in 1987 proclaimed March 1 International Day against Drug Addiction and Illicit Drug Trafficking, thereby identifying the importance of the problem and demonstrating its determination to expand international cooperation to achieve the goal of a world community free of drug addiction. Today, drug addiction has affected all countries of the world; the number of drug users exceeds 200 million people. According to the most approximate estimates of experts, from 3 to 4% of the world's inhabitants use drugs.
Drug addiction problem is one of the most relevant for both healthcare and society as a whole. This is due to the severe medical and social consequences of substance abuse, among which characteristic personality changes are in the first place. The negative medical and social consequences of drug addiction include: the presence of a number of somatic diseases in patients, a low percentage of employment, a high frequency of criminal behavior and criminal records, and disruption of family ties.
In the Republic of Belarus, more than 15 thousand patients who use narcotic drugs are currently under the supervision of psychiatrists and narcologists. In the Republic of Belarus, as of January 1, 2018, 8025 patients with drug dependence syndrome and 5061 people were registered. consuming drugs with harmful consequences. Among the drugs used, opium drugs (49.6%), cannabis (15.8%), psychostimulants (6.1%) and a number of other drugs still dominate. In recent years, the use of Spice smoking mixtures has become fashionable among young people. Taking Spice leads to the immediate development of drug addiction. When Spice is used once or twice, psychological dependence develops, and when used for 2 months or more, physical dependence develops. In 2016, 483 people turned to health care organizations of the republic for medical assistance after smoking Spice, in 2017 - 1,100 people.
An analysis of the social characteristics of people under dispensary observation by a psychiatrist-narcologist in 2017 showed that among the observed patients with drug addiction, the number of people under 18 years of age was 731 people. (5.2%), aged 19 to 25 years - 3860 people. (27.1%), over 30 years old - 6329 people (44.3%).
With drug dependence syndrome, 2434 women (17.1%), 109 (1.3%) school students, 345 (4.1%) vocational school students, 148 people (1.7%) technical school students, 89 people (1.1%) are university students. Among the observed population, people with secondary education dominate (81.3%), with incomplete secondary education - 18.8%. Only 3.8% of patients have higher education. Only 66 are employed ,8% of patients, 55.7% are single, 41.8% of patients live with their parents.
In addition to the fact that drug addiction leads to physical, moral and social degradation of the individual, it pushes those who have “lost themselves” to commit crimes. Of the observed contingent, 52.1% have a criminal record, and in 26.6% of cases the criminal record is not related to drug transactions.
Causes of drug addiction
Drug addiction is understood as a painful attraction, addiction to the systematic use of drugs, leading to severe impairment of mental and physical functions.
Some of the main reasons leading to drug addiction among teenagers are:
- lack of love and attention from loved ones;
- an experiment on your consciousness (this motivation is usually used by intellectual youth, they are quite educated, study specific, psychedelic literature, take all measures available to them so as not to cross the line of addiction);
- curiosity.
The reason for drug use may be rebellion, which is a form of protest against the values professed by society and family, especially considering the young age of people susceptible to this destructive passion. Acting impulsively, teenagers, before thinking, commit an action, most often the wrong one. They do not want to perform any duties; they seek pleasure in everything. Lacking a sense of responsibility, they often come into conflict with those who have power over them.
Many teenagers also experience a complete lack of interest in any activities, events or other things. They are indifferent to school activities and usually have no hobbies. They have no interest in future events; any personal achievements are of no value.
Another “reason” for drug use can be serious internal conflicts and socialization problems.
A number of symptoms are very characteristic of those individuals who have very low self-esteem and who consider others better than themselves. They are dominated by a feeling of dissatisfaction, unhappiness, anxiety, boredom, self-doubt, and depression. They feel unhappy at home, they are characterized by alienation and isolation from the family and in relationships with peers. In such cases, a person is in dire need of additional “pain relief.” But as practice shows, many run away to “replacements” and become isolated in the motionless and illusory world that they have created around themselves.
For some, drugs are a way to combat depression. When in a state of emotional difficulties, many people believe that by using drugs or alcohol they can avoid a state of deep depression. But usually alcohol and drugs bring only temporary relief.
Consequences of drug addiction
The consequences of drug use can be divided into three groups: medical, mental and social.
TO medical consequences relate:
Depression- a state of depression or melancholy mood. Depression in drug addicts occurs during the period of abstinence from drug use.
Overdose- a frequent situation in the life of a drug addict, especially when using drugs and raw materials whose activity is higher than that of those that he usually used. In case of an overdose, loss of consciousness, respiratory and cardiac arrest are possible - all this requires emergency medical care. The consequence of an overdose is often death.
Convulsions- one of the manifestations of withdrawal syndrome that occurs during the period of abstinence from drug administration. When it is not possible to administer the required dose of the drug, first the general state of health worsens, the mood decreases, then disturbances occur in the stomach, intestines, and cardiovascular system in the form of various types of pain, changes in stool, and interruptions in the functioning of the heart.
Often, patients with drug addiction experience complications and infections due to violations of aseptic rules when administering drugs.
Vein inflammation- a consequence of the use of unsterile syringes and needles or the administration of drugs. Inflammation of the veins, in turn, can lead to a serious complication - blood poisoning.
Parenteral hepatitis- inflammatory liver diseases, very common among drug addicts. They are caused by viruses that are transmitted from one drug addict to another through contaminated needles.
AIDS. During the period of “withdrawal” and an irresistible attraction to the drug, all thoughts and actions of a person are aimed at immediately receiving a dose in any conditions, in any syringe and with any needle - hence the danger of contracting HIV infection.
Mental effects
addictive- a hallmark of drug addiction as a disease. Gradually, the drug becomes necessary not only to experience a high, but also to simply feel comfortable, a mental dependence is formed.
Fears. A drug addict has many reasons to feel fear: fear of being exposed, arrested, fear for his health, because of his debts, etc. Fears and depression are the most common causes of breakdowns during this period.
High suicide risk. Fears, depression, withdrawal symptoms and all of the above negative consequences of drug addiction exhaust the human psyche, driving him to despair. The apparent hopelessness of the situation pushes a person to commit suicide.
Social consequences
Domestic scandals, loss of friends: a person who uses drugs is forced to constantly hide his addiction from parents and other people, moving away from them more and more. The longer you have been using drugs, the narrower your social circle becomes.
Criminality(with all the ensuing consequences: beatings, arrests...) drug addiction patients are caused by several factors: the need for money to buy drugs, forced connections with drug dealers (which in itself is an illegal act), personality changes with a characteristic moral and ethical decline. In addition, drug addicts can commit illegal acts while intoxicated or in a psychotic state.
Initial signs of drug addiction
Indirect signs of drug use and drug addiction are not absolute, but often help in identifying drug users. Their appearance is not completely terrible. If you rely on external signs, you should remember that they are not suitable for drug addicts with little experience.
What are these signs:
Always wear long sleeves, regardless of the weather or situation;
- unnaturally narrow or wide pupils, regardless of lighting;
- detached look;
- often - a sloppy appearance, dry hair, swollen hands;
- dark, destroyed, “broken off” teeth in the form of “stumps”;
- posture is often stooped;
- slurred, “stretched” speech;
- clumsy and slow movements in the absence of the smell of alcohol from the breath;
- a clear desire to avoid meetings with government officials;
- irritability, harshness and disrespect in answering questions;
- marks from injections.
Experienced drug addicts inject themselves anywhere, and traces need to be looked for in all areas of the body, not excluding the skin on the head under the hair; often the traces of injections do not just look like multiple red dots, but merge into dense bluish-purple strands along the veins.
Sometimes the signs common to all drugs are considered “quite normal behavior for a teenager,” although this is not entirely true. Here they are:
The child’s growing secrecy (possibly without a deterioration in relations with parents), accompanied by an increase in the frequency and duration of “partying,” his interest in studying or in his usual hobbies and hobbies decreases, parents learn about absenteeism from school, and academic performance decreases;
- financial demands increase, and the teenager is actively looking for ways to satisfy them (money from parents’ wallets and valuables from home begin to disappear);
- new suspicious friends appear (but at first the young man usually meets with very decent-looking drug addicts) or the behavior of old friends becomes suspicious (conversations with them are conducted in a whisper, in incomprehensible phrases or in solitude);
- mood changes for unknown reasons (very quickly and often does not correspond to the situation).
Drug addiction prevention
At the state level, drug addiction prevention includes 2 components:
1 - measures to limit the spread of drugs;
2 - anti-drug propaganda provided by the media and social institutions.
In order to minimize the consequences of drug addiction, timely response and develop adequate responses to new trends in drug use, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus is constantly working to improve the forms and methods of providing medical care.
At the same time, it is advisable to consistently carry out work on drug addiction prevention in schools and vocational schools. In order to early identify drug users, it is necessary to consistently introduce testing of schoolchildren for drug use in strict accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.
School programs should become the most common form of drug education. The emphasis in drug addiction prevention work should be on working with adolescents and their parents.
Material prepared by:
Head of the Narcology Sector
State Institution "Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health"
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor
Maksimchuk V. P.
Drug addiction is a terrible problem of the modern generation. That is why the International Day Against Drug Addiction provides an opportunity for people suffering from this addiction to unite and believe in themselves.
History of establishment of such date
June 26 is Day Against Drug Addiction. This date is a day of struggle against addiction and against illegal trafficking of such harmful drugs. The date was founded in 1987. This was a kind of demonstration of the determination of the General Assembly of the North Atlantic Alliance to focus its work on this area and create a society that does not use narcotic drugs.
At the end of the nineties, a session of this body was held, the goal of which was to significantly reduce this negative phenomenon throughout society by 2008. However, today approximately 185 million citizens use narcotic drugs. Moreover, every year the numbers become higher and more threatening. The consequences of drug use directly relate to the demographic situation. More and more children and adolescents are using illegal drugs, and more and more young women are taking stimulants.
For your information:
Just a few years ago, the age of addicts was 17 years old. Now this threshold has been reduced to 14 years. Over the past decade, the number of representatives of the fairer sex taking psychotropic substances has increased sevenfold.
The fight against this addiction in Russia
International Day Against Drug Addiction in Russia is also celebrated on June 26th. This is another preventive measure that is of a propaganda nature. On this day, various events dedicated to this problem are organized in schools and on the streets, in universities and workplaces. 
For several years now, special bodies have been operating in our country to control the distribution of drugs and prevent the commission of crimes in this area. It is they who carry out preventive measures, produce various posters on the topic of the dangers of such substances and conduct conversations with schoolchildren and youth representatives.
Modern drug addiction is not only a disease, but also a profitable business. Drug dealers want to profit from the misfortune of others; after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the level of drug-related crimes in Russia has increased. Such a rapid spread of harmful addiction is causing concern to the relevant authorities and government officials. That is why, when the day of combating this phenomenon passes, educational and informational events are held.
What is included in preventive measures
Actions to prevent and prevent addiction and crimes in this area include the following:
What is the problem of drug addiction?
World Anti-Addiction Day encourages young people to give up addictions that can lead to serious consequences.
The key to getting rid of this phenomenon is to inform society about the extremely adverse consequences after using any type of drug. Only in this case can the younger generation be protected from a monstrous mistake.
Drug addiction leads to complete deformation of personality and to health complications. If a person is addicted to harmful substances, he gradually loses self-respect and moral principles, and his mental health becomes unstable. Due to mental pathology, he stops fully communicating with friends and relatives, young people cannot get a decent profession, and already working citizens quit.
Another danger of such addiction is the irreversible condition of the addict. The changes that occur in the body due to the use of substances remain forever. If a recovered addict decides to try a dose again, he will have to undergo the course of therapy again.
For your information:
Experts do not use the phrase "recovered drug addicts", drug addicts can only be "recovering".
The international day dedicated to the fight against this phenomenon should not leave any citizen indifferent. It is important to support all preventive actions and take active part in them. Only in this case can the number of addicted people in our country be reduced.
How to treat drug addiction
Is it possible to get rid of this habit on your own? There is only one answer: you can return to a full life only in inpatient conditions in modern drug treatment centers.
If you notice signs in your relative or friend that he is partial to drugs (confused consciousness, strange eyes, inappropriate behavior), be sure to persuade him to visit a professional narcologist.
In such clinics they will do everything necessary to rid the patient of a terrible habit:
- detoxification of the body. In this case, with the help of special medications, toxins that have accumulated during drug use are removed from the body.
- Getting rid of addiction through the use of psychotherapeutic techniques and other means.
- Social rehabilitation. With such an event, the patient returns to life in society, and psychotherapy sessions of an individual and group nature are conducted.
World Day Against Substance Abuse is a necessity in modern society. It is important to competently carry out preventive actions and attract young people to healthy pastime. If your loved one does encounter such a problem, promptly contact a specialist who will prevent further development of addiction. Many clinics provide the opportunity for anonymous treatment, so you don’t have to worry about your reputation.
Attention!
The information in the article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute instructions for use. Consult your healthcare provider.
Victor Glezer
| 21.12.2013 20:18DRUG ADDICTION PREVENTION – IN THE ORGANIZATION OF FAMILY RELATIONS
The growth of drug addiction and other destructive addictions (alcoholism, gambling addiction, etc., with their increasing diversity) in all countries, despite all the punitive and educational measures taken, indicates the need for a more in-depth analysis of these phenomena.
After all, drug addiction is one of the consequences of the total alienation of people. In conditions of developed market relations, the sphere of production and the productive activities of family members are separated from family life. The isolation of spheres of activity and interests, the circle of active communication of each of the family members gives rise to their alienation. And without the conscious organization of active interaction and emotional rapprochement of family members, further disintegration of family relationships and, as a consequence, the growth of drug addiction will be inevitable. But the organization of such interaction within families is possible only by establishing active cooperation between families at the place of residence, i.e. restoration of community relations.
Only the organization of active and comprehensive interaction of families at the local community level (and this can be achieved through interaction in the classroom and school) can really restore relationships of mutual care and responsibility in the family, in which a slide into any kind of destructive dependencies becomes, as a rule, impossible.
The main thing in drug addiction prevention is the formation of friendly relations in every family and the organization of extracurricular activities for children and adolescents. So that children and adolescents develop needs for socially significant productive activities, which would be interfered with by smoking, alcohol, and drugs. Without this, all prohibitions act in the opposite direction - the forbidden fruit is sweet.
This requires qualitatively new forms of social organization:
QUALITATIVELY NEW DIRECTION
SOCIAL WORK – FAMILY CLUBS
Significant disadvantages of many programs for the education of morality, healthy lifestyles and their financing are:
– their narrow focus on certain groups of the population (young parents, teenagers, pensioners, etc.),
– these programs actually ignore the problems of intra-family relationships and intra-family pedagogy.
The more attention, resources and efforts of all members of society are involved in the discussion and solution of specific and general family problems, the more effective and less costly the developed programs of state and public organizations will be.
Family clubs, as a constant, active and comprehensive cooperation of families themselves, teachers and social workers, government and public organizations, can be an organizational form of discussion and implementation of social programs being developed.
Today, the likelihood that each of our children, even if they do not become drug addicts and criminals themselves, will turn out to be their victims, is much greater than the likelihood of an accident on the road or in a terrorist attack.
The problems of pensioners are no less complex.
When retiring, an elderly person is deprived of the main form of social self-realization and many friendly connections and family respect. He faces a difficult choice. Either come to terms with your lack of demand, your loneliness and live out your already empty life in depression, or find a new use for your abilities, realize them in active work and receive more and more new incentives for life. Most veterans are not ready for this choice. They need help from psychologists, social services, and public organizations. This help is not available today.
But here is the medical and economic side of this problem.
Loneliness and depression of older people lead them to serious nervous diseases - Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and others. Funds spent on their treatment far exceed those needed to organize their active activities.
Scientists believe that if today's patients had led an active lifestyle, 40% of them would have avoided the disease.
In the absence of the necessary social circle and activity, the elderly experience hypochondria - excessively anxious observation of oneself and fear for one’s health. Hypochondriacs begin to “go to doctors”, looking for a doctor who would confirm the diagnosis of non-existent diseases and prescribe medications that further destroy their health.
If we organize a decent, active life for our veterans, including their active participation in raising our children, we will not only fill their lives with new content and joy, preserve their health, but also reduce the costs of their treatment.
Qualitative changes in the development conditions of our children and their grandparents should become the main task, jointly solved in the creative cooperation of teachers, social workers, all adult members of each family and the children and adolescents themselves.
One form of such cooperation could be family clubs. Family clubs, primarily at schools and kindergartens (as well as at any club, creative and public organizations) can become centers of active communication between children and adults. In a small microdistrict, including a school and several kindergartens, it is quite possible to implement a program to harmonize intra-family and community relations.
The activity program of family clubs can begin with regular family holidays for school classes and kindergarten groups, based on any children's or adult creative groups at club institutions. At these holidays, in active communication, children, with the help of adults, would demonstrate their achievements in studies and other activities, and would introduce their comrades to the most striking episodes from the lives of their parents, grandparents, and the history of their family.
Based on a common interest in preparing family holidays and bringing together residents of the neighborhood, it will be possible to create a Fund for cooperation and mutual assistance of a class, school, neighborhood... The most important source of funds when organizing the Fund should be voluntary contributions from parents. And this support is not only material, but also spiritual. Only a business in which one invests one’s own strength and resources becomes dear and important to everyone. And what is worth nothing is, as a rule, not valued.
On the basis of the Fund and using the premises and material resources of the school and kindergartens of the microdistrict, club institutions, it will be possible to organize electives, clubs and studios, sports sections for children and adults, which would be led by specialists for a decent salary. It is very important to involve in every possible way adult residents of the microdistrict in this work with wages that correspond to their qualifications and, if required, training.
The family club, with the help of psychologists, will help teenagers determine the leading direction of their activities and will be able to organize these activities so that every child and teenager feels the joy of their achievements, gets rid of complexes and internal tension, which form the basis of teenage drug addiction and crime. The family club will help pensioners find their place in the club’s activities, getting rid of loneliness and depression.
Many retirees find it very difficult to live with their children and grandchildren. They would happily agree to live “side by side, but not together.” Within the framework of a family club, with the help of a public council and a professional psychologist, it is possible to select companions for joint renting of housing by pensioners or young families.
Under the council of the microdistrict, it is possible to create an employment commission that would help provide jobs for residents of the microdistrict, including pensioners and teenagers, help resolve conflicts in production, and harmonize industrial relations.
It is very important to organize charitable activities in the microdistrict, helping the sick, disabled and elderly. And, above all, by the efforts of teenagers and young people under the leadership of elderly residents of the neighborhood.
Organizing a competition between children in apartment buildings and cottage neighborhoods to improve their amenities and cleanliness can have a good effect.
Grandparents can play a key role in all this work. Their free time, love and life and work experience will be able to be fully realized within the framework of family clubs. After all, if older people have a lot of good concerns, if they fulfill themselves in their beloved grandchildren, then their mood is higher, and they feel younger and healthier. And the huge reserves of love and active care of grandparents are so needed by our children today!
Some specific proposals for socio-psychological work, in our opinion, can be implemented today without any special costs and reduce the severity of the problems of many families.