THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC OF YOUTH'S ADDICTION AND ITS SOCIO-ECONOMIC BURDEN

Addictions are a set of hazardous mental illnesses that are often neglected in everyday life and healthcare policies. Young people are particularly vulnerable to addictive substances and behaviours due to biological aspects of brain development as well as economic, technological, social and cultural advances. Numerous studies confirm the fast-rising prevalence of abuse and addiction among youth has achieved the pandemic level. Moreover, the lifelong burden of addiction is exceptionally cumbersome for children, adolescents and young adults because costs tend to accumulate over extended period with elevated risk of comorbidity and complications in future life. Therefore, this study attempts to assess both the morbidity of addiction among young people and the related socio-economic burden. The research was carried out by a literature review and statistical analysis. The results indicate that the problem of youth addiction is severe and systematically growing. In particular, the prevalence of online behavioural dependencies is rising, while the healthcare systems are not prepared for the drastic change.