Drug addiction is one of the most urgent and serious problems of modern society. People suffer from drug addiction regardless of their social status or age, including young people. To find out about drug addicts in Kazakhstan, we decided to talk with the head of the «Future Without Drugs» Foundation, Zhandos Aktayev.
Hello, Zhandos! Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. First of all, I would like to know about the main mission of the «Future Without Drugs» Foundation.
The «Future Without Drugs» Foundation is engaged in the primary prevention of drug addiction among young people and the prevention of drug crime. We monitor the Internet space for drug advertising, and recruitment ads in the drug business and block it using our «Mergen» IT algorithm. To date, we have blocked more than 3,000 Telegram channels for the sale of drugs and the recruitment of young people into the drug business.
We also provide life skills training for young people and their parents, as psychological resilience and awareness develop critical thinking, allow people to look soberly at things, and prevent the spread of drug addiction. We struggle with the tacit approval of the majority on drugs because many in society try to turn a blind eye to this and this inaction leads to the degradation of society. Our foundation also engages in international activities and chairs the UNIDC Central Asian Drug Prevention Network. We share our experience with neighboring countries and create a healthy society at the regional level.
Is there any data on the number of drug-addicted youth in Kazakhstan?
According to our data, every 5th young person have tried drugs and this is a terrifying statistic. You know that synthetic drugs are addictive the first time, and their share of consumption is more than 70% in Kazakhstan. There are now about 6 million young people in Kazakhstan, of which every fifth is about one and a half million young people. Considering the level of silence, we can say that this figure can be safely multiplied by three (3-4 million people).
According to your data, what is the average age of an addicted person?
The average age of a dependent person has become younger, now it is 17 years old. I have personally seen children much younger undergoing treatment in rehabilitation centers, and this picture is shocking.
What are the most common psychoactive substances currently popular among young people? And how can the availability of such substances be reduced?
Now it is a synthetic drug called «mephedrone». Its availability can be reduced in only 2 ways:
- scaling up the prevention of funds like us;
- enhanced work of law enforcement agencies.
Only by raising awareness among citizens and destroying drug laboratories will we protect the people from this poison.
Where to go if a loved one has fixed problems with drug addiction and alcoholism?
Any dependency is a disease, as in the case of the disease, you need to contact specialists - nutritionists and psychologists who will allow you to undergo rehabilitation.
How can teenagers and young people be protected from the desire to try alcohol, tobacco, and drugs?
It is necessary to understand that this is the task of the whole nation and everyone should contribute. We are approached by various people who want to help with their skills, time, and resources. We appreciate this and try to realize their potential 100%. Every tenge of donations, every training, and consultation provided allows us to reach more and more people. Our security is in our hands, and if we want to avoid becoming a nation of dependent people, then we all have to invest in this work.
What would you like to wish for the young people of Kazakhstan?
I want to wish every citizen of Kazakhstan to remember that we are not only an independent country but an independent people. It is important to maintain this independence (in every sense) despite any difficulties. Become part of our foundation and guard the health and future of our youth!
Thank you very much for the interview!
Interviewed by Zhadra Ayuukhan, expert of the SRC “Youth”
Photo materials from the personal archive of Zhandos Aktayev
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this material are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official position of the “Youth” Scientific Research Center. In addition, the Center is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information contained in this material.