Leading psychologist-addictologist Galiya Nazkhanova: «Drugs have become more accessible to young people»

As the President noted in his speech at the third session of the National Kurultai «Adal adam – Adal enbek – Adal tabys», drug trafficking, including synthetic drugs, has become a real epidemic: «Drug addiction is spreading especially fast among children, poisoning our younger generation. We must step up the fight against drugs without wasting time, because tomorrow it may be too late».

We decided to talk about this topic with the top psychologist-addictologist of the country, the head of the «Center for Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Adaptation QAlTUYU», clinical psychologist of the project «Narkostop» Nazkhanova Galiya Alzhaparovna.

Good afternoon! Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed! Galiya Alzhaparovna, you are one of the leading addiction psychologists. Based on your work experience, what can you say about the current drug situation among young people in the country? What trends do you notice today?

Speaking about the drug situation in our country and the impact of new trends and tendencies on it, it is necessary to state the fact that for more than a decade there has been an intensive structural reorganization of the criminal drug market:

- synthetic drugs (amphetamines, stimulants, salts, synthetic cannabinoids) have replaced the previously traditional opium and heroin;

- drug marketing schemes and methods have changed;

- noncontact methods have become the main way of selling narcogens. For this purpose, mobile applications and popular messengers are used, through which distributors find potential buyers. Payment is also made remotely. After payment is received, the buyer is sent a link with the location of the «stash» with the illegal substance.

Thus, we can see that narcotic substances have become more accessible to young people, who are the most active users of the Internet.

In addition, it should be noted that synthetic drugs are relatively easy to manufacture, and the components of which they are composed are available and quite legal. These circumstances make these drugs attractive and easily accessible to young people.

Among the most alarming trends, we would like to note the following. Only 10-15 years ago drug addiction was mainly a problem of big cities, nowadays it covers both small towns and auls.

What are the current challenges in the fight against drug abuse among young people?

In fact, there are a number of problems that should be addressed in the fight against drug addiction in modern Kazakhstan.

First, the activities of criminal prosecution bodies should be aimed at finding, solving crimes and bringing to criminal responsibility the major producers and drug dealers, rather than low-level sellers, i.e. «stash brokers», who are often drug addicts themselves.

Secondly, it is necessary to organize preventive work with young people, which should be systematic and consistent. Unfortunately, in our country, disease prevention is given attention at a formal level. There is prevention, but its quality leaves much to be desired.   

And, finally, the third point is the absence of a clear state ideology. One of the most important directions of which would be the issue of youth, namely the designation of clear prospects for young people.

What preventive measures do you consider most effective in preventing drug abuse among adolescents and young people?

Any disease and drug addiction is a disease, is easier to prevent than to treat. Thus, drug prevention is understood as a set of measures aimed at preventing the use of psychoactive substances (PAS) and their distribution. It is carried out at several levels - state, community, local and family.

It is also known that the demand for consumption is a determining factor in the development of any market, including the drug market. Thus, in just one year, one person who uses drugs can draw three to seven people into the use and trafficking of narcotic substances. Thus, the more active drug users there are among adolescents and young people, the more young people they can draw into drug use and trafficking. Therefore, activities to reduce the demand for drugs among young people are of great importance. That is, it is necessary to develop methods to influence drug users to reduce the demand for narcotic substances, including measures to improve legislation, the effectiveness of the punishment imposed by the court, the penitentiary system, and the system of rehabilitation of persons dependent on PAS.

Could you please tell us more about the «Narkostop» project?

The «Narcostop» project was first launched in Almaty in 2021. The organizer and inspirer of the project is Nurzhan Zhakupov. «Narcostop» started with the work of volunteers engaged in painting over graffiti-drug advertisements. Today «Narcostop» is a project that deals with the prevention of drug addiction in a comprehensive way. Special emphasis is placed on adolescents and young people.

Thus, as of 2023, the project provided more than three thousand consultations, psychological and informational assistance to the population; consultations for relatives and loved ones of addicts; awareness-raising activities with school and college students, university students, their parents and teachers; research activities; legal consultations, etc.

Thank you very much for the interview! And lastly, what would you like to say and wish to the young people of Kazakhstan?

Young age is a wonderful age when everything is just beginning and everything is ahead of you. So love, dream, be interested, study and learn new things, set goals and achieve them! And remember that no matter what difficulties a person meets in life, they are surmountable and they will pass. Difficult situations and crises are a point of growth. You came out of a difficult situation, overcame the crisis and became stronger.