UN Assesses Youth Drug Use Levels in 2019
Members of the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) have called attention to the rising use of cannabis in Russia and worldwide. The Board’s new annual report focuses in particular on the issue of drug use among young people, which is “in most cases” preceded by alcohol and tobacco use. In light of this, INCB members recommend evaluating the effectiveness of current prevention programs and “building a critical mass” of professionals in the fields of prevention and addiction treatment. Experts cite a lack of information and medical professionals as factors that reduce the likelihood of people seeking help for substance abuse.
The UN International Narcotics Control Board presented its annual report on the global drug situation. In a statement by the Board’s chair, Cornelis de Joncheere, it was noted that drug use among youth was identified as a major problem in 2019.
“Among all substances under international control, cannabis remains the most prominent, popular among both teenagers and adults,” said Mr. de Joncheere. “We are concerned about the situation in several countries that have allowed the use of controlled substances, specifically cannabis, for non-medical purposes, contrary to the provisions of drug control treaties and their obligations.”
According to estimates in the 2018 World Drug Report, more than 31 million people suffer from drug use disorders, “and many of them are young people.” Galina Korchagina, INCB member and Deputy Director for Science at the National Scientific Center for Narcology (a branch of the V.P. Serbsky Center), stated, “Young people aged 15–24 are particularly vulnerable to drugs due to their physiological, social, and emotional development.”
“We draw attention to the link between psychoactive substances and the use of alcohol and tobacco. The report cites studies showing that young people most often start using drugs after consuming alcohol and tobacco, so the Board specifically highlights the need to prevent alcohol and tobacco use as the first step in preventing drug use,” said Ms. Korchagina.
The report notes that the earlier young people aged 16–19 are exposed to alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis, “the greater the likelihood they will move on to opiates and cocaine in adulthood.” The fact that young people are especially susceptible to developing drug habits “forces us to rethink risk and protective factors,” the report’s authors say. “Preventive and therapeutic assistance for children and adolescents should take into account the influence of others and their social environment on their development.”
Ms. Korchagina explained that effective prevention programs can only be developed if “we know what is happening in a particular country, in specific cities, and among certain groups.” She also noted that widespread discussion of drug use can lead young people to believe that “everyone is using drugs, and instead of being deterred by this information, they are attracted to it.”
“It is very difficult to carry out preventive interventions when a person is young, when they have nothing to lose because they have not yet developed motivation for a healthy lifestyle or to refuse experimentation,” said Ms. Korchagina.
Recommendations and Challenges
INCB members recommended that governments establish national epidemiological data systems to monitor changing trends in youth psychoactive substance use: “This will allow for evidence-based prevention before the age of first use (before birth, in early and middle childhood, and early adolescence).”
“A lack of empirical data and insufficient research on effectiveness clearly demonstrate the need to expand efforts to evaluate outcomes,” the document states. “The challenge of reaching especially vulnerable groups remains unresolved, and there is no effective way to adapt interventions developed under optimal conditions to real-life situations. Many activities labeled as drug prevention or addiction treatment lack an empirical basis; their reach is limited, and their quality is at best unknown.”
Authorities are also advised to invest in the professional development of specialists working in prevention and addiction treatment, with “special attention” to the needs of young people: “This work should include the creation of national training and certification systems for prevention and treatment professionals responsible for decision-making, planning, and implementing programs.”
“Countries need to move away from a model of prevention and treatment of substance use disorders where these issues are handled by well-intentioned individuals acting alone,” the INCB members continue. “This work should be tailored to the specific situation, supported by practitioners and policymakers in building knowledge, skills, and competencies, and should help form a critical mass of qualified professionals in prevention and addiction treatment.”
Trends in Russia
Valentina Kirzhanova, head of the epidemiology department at the National Scientific Center for Narcology, reported during the presentation that “the rate of new cases among young people has decreased by almost 2% over 20 years.” She noted changes in the structure of substance use disorders among youth: “The proportion of patients with harmful use—meaning milder substance use disorders—has increased, while the share of patients seeking help for the first time with severe substance use disorders has decreased. We see this as a positive development.”
Kirzhanova explained that in the late 1990s and early 2000s, patients typically sought help for opioid addiction and severe drug dependence. Now, “there are more patients with cannabis, psychostimulant, and new drug dependencies.”
She cited data from a 2019 survey of over 400 addiction and social service professionals from 82 Russian regions, who identified factors influencing the decline in people seeking addiction treatment. These included government policies “aimed at reducing the supply of alcohol and drugs and implementing primary prevention programs” (28.7%), “legal restrictions for patients diagnosed with substance use disorders” (26.2%), and “insufficient access to addiction treatment, a shortage of doctors, and poor public awareness about available services” (23.7%).
At the same time, Kirzhanova noted that several studies indicate a decrease in drug use among Russian children and adolescents: “The prevalence of marijuana use is declining, and the age of first use is increasing. Among both boys and girls, mortality from acute drug poisoning has dropped by two or more times.” However, she also points out the “phenomenon of controlled and mild drug use”: “This is a new trend in the drug situation both in Russia and abroad. The availability of new drugs creates opportunities for experimentation, and models such as episodic, status, recreational, and club use have become widespread.”
International Policy and Future Directions
International drug control conventions, based on a prohibitionist ideology, have failed to achieve their goals of reducing demand and supply on the black market, as acknowledged by members of the Global Commission on Drug Policy in their report “Regulation: A Responsible Approach to Drug Control.” The authors recommend that countries, depending on their experience and situation, initiate reforms and begin to legally regulate the drug market, using proven methods from alcohol and tobacco control. Russian experts say that for Russia, it is “far too early” to consider such a scenario.