Despair has been found
to be a leading cause of substance abuse, from alcoholism to drug addiction,
and there is ample evidence to support this premise. According to Narconon,
Russia is now one of the fastest growing markets for illicit drugs that never
were an issue when run as a Communist country within the Soviet Bloc. Many
people believed that the propensity of Russians to drink inordinate amounts of
Vodka was due largely to Communist oppression but it seems as though the
problem has actually increased since the ‘wall’ came tumbling down a couple
decades ago. Why is this? Choices Recovery
weighs in on the issue and has a viable explanation that could help Russia rise
above this growing epidemic.
The Economy Goes from Bad to Worse
After the fall of
Communism, Russia was on track for sustained growth. But just less than two
decades after they brought down the Soviet Bloc, the crisis of 2008 sent the
country into a downward spiral. Like western nations, Russia had trouble
pulling itself back up out of the pits but current key indicators show that
Russia is beginning its downward spiral once again and has been on this path
for at least the past 18 months. Illicit drug trafficking is at an all-time
high in Russia and there is really not much else to blame other than despair
over a failing economy. Russians had high hopes for a future free from
oppression but this has not proven to be forthcoming.
A Quick Look at the Economic
Struggles Greece Continues to Face
The continuing
financial problems that have beset Greece since the global economic crisis of
2008 have created what is being referred to as a ‘Lost Generation.’ Youths line the streets looking for a cause
to believe in, are fighting routinely now instead of playing video games as
they had just a decade ago, and many have turned to drugs as an attempt to
assuage their despair. As is the case with so many countries around the world,
when confronted with such a severe and widespread economic downfall, there is
nowhere to turn but drugs and alcohol – or so it seems to the youth of that
country in current times.
Per Wickstrom Says Help Is Available
in the Face of Despair
Per Wickstrom, founder and CEO of Choices Recovery says that
even despair of this magnitude can be counteracted with the right treatment.
Instead of giving young people cause of hope, governments are harping on the
economy and giving false hope that millennials can see right through. Per
believes that international agencies should step in to offer counselling and
mentoring for those youths so highly affected by a sluggish economy. “It won’t
be an easy road to travel,” he says, “but with just a bit of mentoring and
information they can begin to work themselves free from the bondage they are
suffering. Only then can the youth in those countries can start working towards
a brighter future.”
Is the United States
headed down the same path as that being travelled by Russia and Greece? We can
only hope not but if, indeed, our market is in for another collapse, it is
better to be armed against despair than to allow ourselves to succumb to it.
Support programs should be put in place now for the eventuality of widespread
panic. If the economy once again recovers it won’t matter a great deal but if
the economy spirals downwards once again, at least we will be prepared for it
this time. As the old cliché goes, forewarned is forearmed and that is the
preventative measure we all need to avoid disaster. Per has hit the nail on the
head once again and now it is just a game of waiting.
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