Expert opinion: the main weapon against drug addiction is the vigilance of loved ones and a love for a healthy lifestyle

Over the past five years, the number of drug-related crimes in Belarus has decreased by half, but the problem remains acute. According to official data, approximately 88,000 Belarusians are dependent on drugs. This figure is comparable to the population of the city of Polotsk.

No parent would wish for their son or daughter to become a drug addict. Addiction to psychoactive substances does not manifest after a single use, unless considering very potent drugs. It typically takes about six months to develop a drug addiction. During this time, attentive relatives and friends can notice the first signs of drug use in a teenager or a loved one. In the early stages of drug use, a person can still be saved from a terrible addiction.

Sudden mood swings occurring without apparent reason, changes in sleep patterns, changes in appetite, alterations in eating habits, and shifts in lifestyle – these early signs of drug addiction can help suspect a person of drug use, but they are too general, and other factors can also influence such behavior. Therefore, it is advisable to pay closer attention to your child or loved one.

The main signs of drug addiction in adolescents are related to changes in their behavior. First and foremost, this is a change in their social circle. The adolescent forgets old friends, refuses to communicate with them, and instead, new acquaintances appear, with whom they speak in quiet, vague phrases. The adolescent strives for solitude, often locks themselves in their room. They leave home for long periods and return late. They lose interest in previously favorite activities, and instead, may become interested in the contents of the home medicine cabinet and read books or articles on pharmacology. Mood swings become more frequent, aggression, increased excitability, and sometimes excessive cheerfulness appear. These are replaced by indifference. Movements become poorly coordinated and jerky. One of the main signs that can suggest drug addiction is an increased need for money. Under various pretexts, the adolescent increasingly demands it from parents. Valuable items and other objects begin to disappear from the home. Direct evidence that a child has become involved with drugs includes needles from syringes, used syringes, foil, candles, lighters, soot-stained spoons, and cigarettes found in the home. In addition to the aforementioned changes in lifestyle and well-being, jumps in blood pressure and intestinal disorders may be observed. A sharp, unpleasant odor may be felt from the mouth – a sign of marijuana smoking. Those who use heroin may have a persistent cough and runny nose. The complexion of drug addicts is pale, even earthy, and their hair is lifeless and brittle. Those who smoke marijuana may develop a butterfly-shaped spot near their nose and on their cheeks. A person using drugs becomes untidy in their clothing and tends to prefer black items. Drug addicts

even in hot weather, they wear long-sleeved shirts and sweaters to hide injection marks.

However, in addition to the conventionally "classic" drugs that are widely known, the so-called chewing tobacco, also known as "snus," poses a threat at the present time. The threat of a new epidemic looms over Belarusian children. It has already hit Russian schools like an avalanche. If you have never heard of "snus," read this material carefully. Pay attention to it, even if you are familiar with the word; you may not know everything about the "pouch of danger."

Snus is a type of smokeless tobacco. It is a product made from moistened or dried ground tobacco, treated with a salt and soda solution, with added flavorings and additives. Unlike chewing tobacco, it is consumed by placing it between the gum and the lip. The product offers the pleasure of tobacco without the accompanying smoke. Thus, a person receives a certain dose of nicotine without smoke. If the pouch is kept in the mouth longer than prescribed, serious intoxication can occur. The main harm of snus is that it contains many times more nicotine than a regular cigarette. More nicotine leads to faster addiction and quicker onset of negative consequences from nicotine, such as cardiovascular diseases. Smokeless tobacco products contain the neurotoxin nicotine, which easily causes physical and behavioral dependence, as well as social dependence. Therefore, it is understandable that even the absence of smoke does not protect against the harmful effects of tobacco. It penetrates all organs and causes the development of various pathological processes. Recently, a schoolboy in Polotsk was poisoned after "tasting" snus. His friend brought the substance to school. It turned out that the teenager had calmly purchased it in one of the local stores. Now ask yourself, would you want your child to be in this situation? A new anti-tobacco law has already come into force in Belarus: smoking is prohibited at bus stops, playgrounds, and other public places. But the main thing in it is that electronic cigarettes (vapes) are equated with regular cigarettes. It would be good if snus were also included.

The departments of the State Committee of Forensic Examinations, when conducting forensic examinations and investigations, are authorized state bodies that provide an official conclusion on the nature of the seized substance, its classification as a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance prohibited for free circulation in the country. In 2021, the departments of the Vitebsk region conducted over 1200 investigations of substances found and seized from individuals, which turned out to be drugs or psychotropic substances. Unfortunately, the effect of such substances on the body can lead to a tragic outcome – death; there are such cases among our fellow countrymen. Among the items submitted for examination are not only single doses seized during detentions, but also large batches (the largest weighed 330 kg), the passage of which to the black market would cause immeasurable problems. But it is always easier to prevent than to deal with the consequences later. In the case of young people, the main weapon against drug addiction is the vigilance of loved ones, timely prevention of criminal contacts, and the formation of other interests related to a healthy lifestyle.

Denis KOZLOV, Head of the Lepel Inter-District Department of the State Committee of Forensic Examinations of the Republic of Belarus.