The Human Cost of Drug Addiction: Social Consequences and Health Threats

On February 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., a curatorial session was held for third-year students majoring in Political Science in Room 310 of the main building of L.N. Gumilyov ENU. The topic of the meeting was “The Human Cost of Drug Addiction: Social Consequences and Health Threats.” The session was delivered by the group curator, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science, PhD in Political Science, M.Yu. Onuchko.

At the beginning of the meeting, the global landscape of drug distribution and the scale of addiction were presented: 64 million people suffer from drug use disorders (a 45% increase over the past 10 years). The most alarming issue highlighted was the dramatic treatment gap: only 1 out of 12 people suffering from drug addiction receives assistance, resulting in approximately 600,000 deaths annually linked to drug use.

Key trends shaping the modern drug market were discussed. Students agreed that young people use drugs no less frequently than adults; however, the harm to their health is greater. Early initiation of drug use is a major risk factor for addiction due to brain immaturity. The price a person pays for momentary pleasure is the loss of health or even life.

The social and public consequences of drug distribution and consumption were thoroughly examined. International experience in combating drug addiction and the role of international organizations were reviewed, including the positive example of the Portuguese reform model. The students drew conclusions and proposed several recommendations.