Young people and drugs” “

Some 5-15 % of young European adults use cannabis, 0.6-6% consume amphetamines, 0.5-3.5 % cocaine and 0.5-5 % ecstasy. These are just some of the statistics to emerge from the 2002 annual report on the evolution of the drug phenomenon in the European Union and Norway, drawn up by Odet, The European Observatory of Drugs and Drug Dependency. Between 10% and 30% of European adults ‘occasionally’ consume cannabis, while the percentage of those who have tried amphetamines, cocaine or ecstasy varies from 1% to 5%. During the 1990s, according to the report, the consumption of cannabis increased in most countries of the EU, especially among the young. Estimates regarding the “problematic consumption” of narcotics suggest that it affects between two and nine cases per thousand of citizens between the ages of 15 and 64, although all countries indicate an increase in the number of patients receiving treatment. The social conditions of drug users are worse than those of the general population of the same age; their level of education is lower and their rate of unemployment is higher. On this subject the FICT (Italian Federation of Therapeutic Communities), in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Healthcare Workers, organised an international symposium which was held recently in Rome. The theme of the meeting was: “Taking care of others – drug dependency between experience and morality”. Below are some of the experiences of various European operators: Spain. “In Spain, the current emergency is that of adolescents between the ages of 14 and 20 who are addicted to hashish and amphetamines, and later move on to cocaine”, affirms don Bartolomeu Català, president of the Spanish Federation of Therapeutic Communities. “The causes include social frustration, unemployment and idleness. Repressive legislation works badly or not at all, while problems such as alcoholism are spreading. Young people buy alcohol by the case in supermarkets and drink their fill before going to the discotheques where drink is either too expensive or banned. In order to face this problem, we launched a new initiative just a few days ago: a centre called Ciberjove has been opened in the heart of Mallorca’s clubland. There, the young people can use computers to access internet, attend courses on creating websites, and seek the help and guidance of therapists and educators. If the model works, we would like to extend it to all Spain”. Italy. In Italy, the FICT statistics demonstrate the gravity of the problem: 50 centres and organisations offering solidarity spread over 17 regions, 937 full-time therapists, 2,913 volunteer workers, and almost one million people with problems of drug dependency who turn to them every year. “What is most worrying”, says don Giacomo Stinghi, one of the FICT leaders, “is that drug dependency has changed and new drugs, such as ecstasy, have replaced heroin. There are three dangers: rendering the use of methadone chronic, giving State services unquestionable authority and so leaving citizens powerless, and transforming communities into places of confinement for the most mentally disturbed. Such measures may protect the healthier segment of society from further social damage, but they do little for those who suffer the pain of drug dependency”. Poland. In Poland the problem has spread, especially to adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15: “here, drugs can be bought very easily and at relatively low prices” explains Jolanta Kocurowska, president of the Polish Federation of Therapeutic Communities. “Moreover, many drugs are produced at home such as, for example, heroin from poppies. Habitual drug consumers number 70,000, while 300,000 people make occasional use, especially of marijuana and amphetamines. Those who want to come out “of the tunnel” can turn to the nearly 500 detoxification associations and therapeutic communities. Thanks to this network, 75% of users manage to get off drugs. Many people come from Russia, Ukraine and the Baltic Republics in search of a cure”. Switzerland. “In Switzerland”, says Nella Sempio director of the multi-cultural advisory centre Musub in Basel, “the problems that make people turn to drugs are above all, but not exclusively, associated with immigration and the problems of integration. The passage between the first generation of immigrants and the second has been marked by a passage from alcohol to heroin. A different society must be created, one in which everyone has the right to participate in social life”.