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Key determinants of drug use

Key determinants of drug use. Catalina Iliuta UNODC Romania. Reality of our days. Despite significant expenditures and commitments, problematic drug use has increased all over the world Xxx of persons (UNODC report 2006)

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Key determinants of drug use

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  1. Key determinants of drug use Catalina Iliuta UNODC Romania

  2. Reality of our days • Despite significant expenditures and commitments, problematic drug use has increased all over the world • Xxx of persons (UNODC report 2006) • In addition, compare to 20-15 years ago, new drug related problems have emerged: new drugs, HIV/AIDS, new drug policies and legislations, new social challenges etc

  3. Reality of our days (count’) • Our society/societies is undergoing rapid change • More parents working, longer working hours, changes to family structures, divorces, extension on the period of adolescence • Evidences shows that most of the time societal institutions (such as childcare and education) do not cope sufficiently with this changes • Individual and environmental factors contribute to drug use • most of the national (functional) responses targets either one or the other dimension of the problem, leading to a limited impact • Research indicates also negative trends in other psychosocial problems (such as suicide rates, mental health problems, delinquency and criminality)

  4. Key determinants of drug use • Individual factors • Human development • Environmental factors • Physical environment • Social and cultural environment • Socio-economic environment These factors are highly interlinked

  5. (1) Human development • Is a complex interplay of individual and environmental factors across the life time • Parents usually play a crucial role in the development of a child • Each age has a set of developmental tasks, and the transition from one stage to another involved a period of adjustment during which support is very much needed • Is shaped by a number of institutions throughout life (family, childcare system, education and legal system)

  6. (2) Physical environment • Aspects of the physical environment includes: • Housing (housing quality, overcrowding, cost availability etc) • Spatial patterns (geographic area, suburban spaces etc) • Characteristics of community where you live • Public spaces etc • All these aspects might create special vulnerabilities related to drug use, both for young people who do not use drugs and for those who already use

  7. (3) Social and cultural environment • ‘Culture’ refers to norms, beliefs, values and meanings of a community and when it comes to drug use is defined as: • ‘drug specific culture’ = norms regarding acceptable patterns of drug use • Drug specific cultural influences vary with factors such as: drug type, group characteristics, and the time when we live

  8. (3) Social and cultural environment (count’) • Social categories (class, gender, race) can also influence the access to resources, exposure to marginalization, roles and expectations • Globalisation - the rate and extent of globalisation have increased and have positive and negative influences • There are a series of ‘protective’ factors including availability of social support/networks, social inclusion, shared norms and values, feeling of belonging. All these should be used when we address the drug use problems

  9. (4) Socio-economic environment • Low socio-economic status and income inequality are often associated with poor health and well being • The socio-economic factor have more negative impacts on larger communities (where the entire group is poor) - characterized by high unemployment, low level of education, substance use and availability (alcohol, drugs), delinquency, these groups provide a cultural environment that is conducive to problem drug use • Relation between low socio-economic status and drug use is bi-directional

  10. Understanding the complexity of “why people do use drugs?” • We need to understand the development of the problem across life time rather than focusing only on initiation of drug use • There are multiple risk factors for drug use across multiple areas • Comprehensive and sustained action is needed for both prevention and treatment

  11. What is needed? • For those who are using drugs the availabilty and accesibility of a complete set of services is crucial, and more services providers should offer services • Peer education is also the key element in delivering quality services

  12. Thank you for your attention! Contact: catalina-elena.iliuta@unodc.org

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