Drug Dependence Among Minors: Issues of Counteraction and Prevention in a Historical Retrospective

The article attempts to study the problem of drug addiction in the context of combating drug addiction among minors, as a negative social phenomenon in society. In particular, it is studied that drug addiction, in particular, among minors, is a problem of many years ago, since narcotic drugs were used by mankind for medical, religious, cultural and other purposes. At the same time, with the development of society, with the expansion of the achievements of science and, in particular, medicine, today the problem of drug addiction has arisen, in particular, among minors. Therefore, drug addiction is not only a medical problem today. Narcotics has become a complex social and negative phenomenon, which has extremely serious consequences for society as a whole, since it covers various spheres of life: cultural, economic, legal, family, psychological, etc. Therefore, there is an urgent need, on the one hand, to establish strict, primarily state control, enshrined at the legislative level, over the circulation of narcotic drugs and precursors and, on the other hand, to develop and implement a number of preventive measures against drug addiction among citizens and, in particular, among minors. It is noted that the international community recognized drug control as a global problem more than a hundred years ago. In particular, this was noted at the first international conference on this issue, which took place in 1909 in Shanghai. Since then, the international system of control over the circulation of narcotic drugs and precursors has developed gradually, in particular, starting in 1912, when the International Opium Convention was adopted. In 1961, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was adopted, in 1971 – the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, in 1988 – the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. It is confirmed that Ukraine, as a European state, has joined and ratified the above-mentioned conventions. Moreover, during the period of independence, anti-narcotics legislation was adopted, in particular, criminal liability for illegal handling of narcotic drugs and precursors was introduced, and a comprehensive countermeasure against drug addiction, in particular among minors, was launched. It is stated that drug addiction as a social phenomenon, in particular, drug addiction among minors, is a huge threat to the development of society and the stability of the state, therefore, combating this scourge is a priority task of every state. Therefore, the prevention and control of drug addiction in our country requires radical changes: from strict regulation of the circulation of narcotic drugs and precursors at the legislative level to a significant improvement in preventive law enforcement activities at all levels. The ways to solve this problem lie in joining the efforts of state authorities, public organizations and society as a whole. This will certainly give a positive result in the form of a decrease in the level of drug addiction among minors as an important socially negative phenomenon. Keywords: drug addiction, narkotism, drug addiction of minors, narcotic drugs, precursors, psychotropic substances, counteraction and prevention of drug addiction.