Statistics regarding psychoactive substance use among youth today raise serious concerns. The National Report on the Drug and Alcohol Situation in Ukraine confirms: every seventh teenager in Ukraine aged 15-16 has already had experience using substances.
Families are often left to face this problem alone. The existing support system is primarily aimed at adults, while teenagers with risky behavior are left without early intervention. As a result, the problem only worsens and carries over into adulthood.
How can we prevent such situations, recognize the first warning signs, and protect the child? This pressing issue is the focus of an original column by Marta Hrytsyk, Director of the Department for Cooperation with State Structures at Ridni Foundation, published on the NV platform.
The article provides a detailed analysis of the current statistics on drug addiction among youth and explains how adults should properly communicate with a child in crisis situations. Special attention is paid to the need to react before the addiction becomes chronic.
You can read the full text of the article on the NV website via the link.
