The shocking reality of Lithuanian students: they revealed what drunk teenagers were

Drug use starts at school

Recent data from the Department of Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control (NTAKD) shows that the emergence of new narcotic and psychotropic substances is stabilizing and the return to the use of “traditional” drugs is returning.

It is of great concern to experts and clinicians that the use and availability of psychoactive substances among students remains high. Studies show that 4 percent. students fall into the category of high-risk consumers. The most common on the market are synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones, which are chosen by young people.

It is also worrying that counterfeit drugs such as Xanax tablets, which contain a dangerous new psychoactive substance, are appearing not only in Europe but also in Lithuania, and the use of such counterfeit drugs poses a real threat to human health or even human health. life.

Such trends are identified by NTAKD specialists based on 2020. collected data and 2019. results of the European School Survey on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) conducted in early April. Almost 25 thousand attended. 15-16 year old students.

Up to 19 percent. 21% of the surveyed students tried drugs at least 1-2 times, of which 21% boys and 18 percent. girls. The most popular drugs remain – cannabis, others consumed – LSD, hallucinogens, ecstasy, cocaine.

The director of the NTAKD prof. Dr. According to Renalds Čiužas, even 24 percent. Binding students claim to have easy access to cannabis, and 4 percent. Students in our country fall into the category of high-risk cannabis users.

“It is especially worrisome that all these psychoactive substances that threaten health begin to be consumed quite early, in school age. Therefore, it is very important that parents or guardians are vigilant, notice the warning signs in time and take measures as soon as possible, ”said Prof. Dr. R. Čiužas.

Although, according to him, there is a slight decrease in the number of students who have tried or used illegal drugs at least once, we have nothing to be happy about yet, as it has serious consequences for growing young people and addiction if they are not consider. weather.

Students are slightly less likely to use new psychoactive substances that have similar effects to traditional drugs such as cannabis or ecstasy. These substances are also called “spaises”, “legal drugs”, “synthetic marijuana”, “chimke” and can come in various forms, such as a mixture of herbs, powders, crystals, swirls, “brands”, salts, nasal sprays. or tablets. 7% tried to use them at least once. of all students. For the most part, they reported using mixtures of herbs and smoked substances in the form of liquids, and less in the form of powders, crystals or tablets.

The most common on the market are synthetic cannabinoids (‘spaisai’, ‘K2’, ‘synthetic marijuana’, ‘dime’) and synthetic cathinones (‘meow meow’, ‘drones’,’ mephedra ‘,’ mefai ‘). Synthetic cannabinoids were used at least once by 4.5% and cathinones by 0.9%. young people interviewed. Although at first glance the figures seem small, they are really worrying, as Lithuania exceeds the national ESPAD average in terms of the use of synthetic cannabinoids (ESPAD average 3.1%).

As R. Čiužas pointed out, medicines can also be bought in the schoolyard, because the distributors also come there.

Rat poisons are also included in drugs.

Head of the Toxicology Center of the Vilnius Republican University Hospital (RVUL), toxicologist doctor dr. Robert Badar argues that to escape addiction to narcotic and psychotropic substances, it is important first to recognize the problem and not be afraid to seek help.

“The most important signs that a young person is using drugs: attention deficit, daytime sleepiness and nighttime insomnia, poor appetite, poor concentration, aggression, change of circle of friends, greater need for money. If so, the parents should be alarmed and seek help from specialists ”, says Dr. R. Badaras.

According to dr. R. Badaro, the statistics are not encouraging, it is really disturbing. E-cigarette fillers are also particularly scary, as they can often be found in illicit psychoactive substances, such as synthetic cannabinoids, rather than the usual liquids found in stores. According to the doctor, Lithuania of the European Union ranks first in this field.

Furthermore, new psychoactive substances pose a great danger. In particular, the use of such substances is followed by completely atypical symptoms. If the classic drugs have very clear clinical signs that appear quickly, then the new substances can go unnoticed for a long time.

Parents are often reluctant to notice that children are starting to get addicted because, according to the doctor, the truth is intimidating. However, the first signs can be easily seen: frequent mood swings, daily routine, disturbed concentration, circle of new acquaintances, lost previous interests, lack of money.

Compared to older psychoactive substances, newer ones are much cheaper and more affordable, posing an even greater risk. Also, there are many of them. There are around 800 new psychoactive substances in Europe alone.

Dr. Mr. Badar said that in the past we had to talk about 6 basic substances and now 800. So it goes without saying that it is much more difficult to distinguish them and understand exactly what it is like.

Interestingly, there is a return to classic drugs across Europe. According to the doctor, this probably happened because people saw the tragic consequences that could occur after various experiments. For example, it is no secret that rat poison is found in some of the new psychoactive substances. And this is not a coincidence. After all, when rats are poisoned with synthetic cannabinoids, the substance stays in the body longer.

One of the painful examples of new substances that cause tragic consequences is synthetic cannabis.

According to a toxicologist, cannabis began to be counterfeited in the first decade of this century in the United States because it is so cheap and beneficial to manufacturers. The effects of synthetic cannabinoids can be up to 100 times stronger and people can consume them without even knowing it, as this substance will be delivered as normal cannabis. The doctor said that there were also cases in Lithuania where the use of synthetic cannabinoids caused a 20-year-old to bleed into the brain.

Dr. According to Badar, without the education of adolescents, the situation will only get worse, as students often start using drugs out of curiosity.

It is difficult to find a school that does not have this problem

The priest Kęstutis Dvareckas, initiator of social projects and leader of the “I am” community, says that many young people manage to get rid of drug addictions when they seek specialized help in a timely manner.

“The most important thing is to recognize the problem and not think that it will go away on its own. The hardest part for beginners is deciding on long-term programs because we are an impatient society. The search for quick relaxation is common and has led to addictions. There is no real and quick recovery: real changes take a long time. The path to healing is not easy, it has a price, but the experience of thousands of healers clearly shows that it is worth following, “says Fr. Dvareckas.

According to K. Dvareckas, schools sometimes say that such a problem does not exist in their community.

“The question is whether the institution is really in the same country as us. Only after we recognize the problem can we begin to solve it, “said K. Dvareckas.

NTAKD Rehabilitation Projects Helping People Return to Full Life and Quit Addictions, 2019. allocated 1.7 million. EUR, 2020 – 1.5 million euros.