A Non-Classic Approach to Studying Drug Consumption in Russia

Abstract

The main stream in the discussion concerning the problems of the prohibited narcotics’ consumption in modern Russia is the further development of the so-called alarmist approach. Those who consider this problem as one of the most dangerous can be seen both among adherents of the liberal as conservative or national ideas for the future Russia. Meanwhile only a few of such experts pay now attention to another global and much more dangerous threat – the penetration of the «beer subculture» in this country. The production and consumption of beer and low-alcoholic drinks in Russia in 1998 – 2005 rose more than two times! And the ratio between firstly detected persons, systematically using alcohol and narcotics changed drastically – from 3,1:1 in 1998 to 8,6:1 in 2005. That’s why we consider the problem of the prohibited narcotics’ consumption in Russia is not so important as the problem of the «beer subculture». Less people are included in this sphere than in the sphere of the beer and low-alcoholic drinks’ consumption. Besides a special federal program to solve the problem of the prohibited narcotics’ consumption is now being realized in this country. The analysis of the regional allocation of the prohibited narcotic’s consumption gives reason to define the groups of regions with different characteristics of the problem. For this purpose specially constructed integrated indicator was used. As a result four groups of regions were delimited. The first of those groups includes 40 regions where urgent measures to prevent further dissemination of the prohibited narcotics’ consumption should be taken. 6 regions included in this group should be referred as the regions of the first turn, namely Krasnodarskiy kray, Samarskaya and Novosibirskaya oblasts, Krasnoyarskiy kray, Irkutskaya oblast and Primorskiy kray. The prohibited narcotics’ consumption is a typical problems for most market economy and it can not be eliminated to a full extent. So the principal task is to create a narcotic “reservation” in order to minimize the negative impacts of the phenomena on the society. Some considerations on the modern social and politic decisions in Russia are also included in the paper.