FEATURES OF PERCEPTIONS OF THE PROBLEM OF NARCOTIC SUBSTANCE USE AMONG WORKING YOUTH COMPARED TO STUDENTS (BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE KURSK REGION)

The study of knowledge and attitudes towards the prevention of issues related to the use of psychoactive substances among students revealed that working youth are significantly less covered by such initiatives, making this issue highly relevant. The goal of the research was to assess the awareness, self-assessment of susceptibility to drug use, and preventive attitudes towards drug addiction among students and working youth in the Kursk region. The research program involved 1,924 respondents: 1,511 students and 413 representatives of working youth aged 20–35. The survey examined awareness, self-assessment of susceptibility to drug use, and preventive attitudes towards drug addiction among students and working youth in the Kursk region. Both samples were representative in terms of age, gender, place of residence within the region, and educational profile. The results were compared between the groups using the student’s t-test. The findings showed that the majority of both students and working youth objectively recognize the dangers of non-medical use of psychoactive substances (81.3±2.0%; 84.7±3.5%). Notably, the differences in the distribution of positions between these groups were minor. However, 12–14% of respondents underestimated the risks of certain substances or their single or occasional use, which represents one of the most common misconceptions. The majority of young people supported testing for psychoactive substance use in legally significant situations. Youth assessments of the prospects for drug treatment revealed a trend towards increased pessimism regarding recovery from drug addiction as they transition from student life to employment. This may be related to observing a greater number of negative outcomes of drug use among working individuals compared to students. The final conclusion indicated that perceptions of the problem of psychoactive substance use among working youth and students are similar, which allows preventive measures to be implemented within a unified system.