Drug addiction was an actual problem of society long before the start of the war, but now it has acquired new, threatening dimensions. In times of war, when life is turned upside down and normalcy becomes a blurred memory, people look for ways to escape reality. Stress, pain of losses and uncertainty about the future become a breeding ground for drug addiction. War not only brings grief and destruction, but also opens the door to a shadow economy where drugs are more accessible than ever. Today, we are watching this problem turn into a real epidemic.
Impressive scale of drug addiction
For data In an online survey conducted by the Institute of Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatric Examination and Drug Monitoring of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, 63.7% of respondents reported that they had used drugs at least once in their lives. Moreover, men are more likely to use drugs than women, as evidenced by 81.2% of men versus 50.3% of women. The age group prone to drug use is mainly people from 25 to 34 years old. Among the reasons that led to the use of the drug, the respondents named:
- for the sake of experiment or entertainment – people aged 25 to 34 (52.5%);
- for stress relief – people aged 35 to 44 (48.9%).
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine became an obstacle to tracking these data in the following years, and in general, it is almost impossible to track the victims of the distribution of “black market” products. According to independent experts, the number of drug addicts in Ukraine is 1.5-2 million people, which is ten times higher than various official figures. The rate of drug addiction increases annually by an average of 8-10%, rapidly replenishing the army of drug addicts.
Just imagine for a moment what awaits a society where most people have become addicted to drugs. The streets are filled with chaos as people lose control over themselves and their actions. Jobs are being lost, the economy is collapsing as productivity falls to zero. Criminal activity is increasing, because drugs are becoming the main currency and source of income. Families are falling apart, children are left without care and protection, and public institutions cannot cope with the flow of problems. Moral values are destroyed, society degrades, and the future becomes uncertain and dark. The nation’s health is rapidly deteriorating, hospitals are overcrowded, and death rates are rising. This is not just a problem of individuals – it is a disaster for the whole society.
“The estimated number of people who used drugs during the war is 300 thousand people. We have evidence from countries that have experienced war that war increases risk-taking behavior. That is, we will have an increase in drug consumption and HIV infection if we do not implement substitution therapy programs,” – Nataliya Podolchak, a representative of the PEPFAR initiative, calls for preventive actions.
Drugs and war
The problem of drugs and the military has not been avoided, although it is not customary to talk about it. However, military personnel are a social group of the entire Ukrainian society, therefore they cannot be aloof from social phenomena. It should be noted that the use of drugs in wars is not something new. During the Weimar Republic, drugs were widely available in Berlin, and the German capital became one of the centers for the use of various illicit substances. However, when the Nazis came to power in 1933, they cracked down hard on drug use, outlawing it.
Later, in 1937, the Nazis developed and patented a new drug based on methamphetamine, Pervitin. This stimulant was able to increase the physical endurance and morale of soldiers, allowing them to remain energetic for a long time and feel euphoric. In addition to the usual 3 mg pills, the Nazis also released Hildebrand chocolates containing 13 mg of pervitin each, far exceeding the usual dose.
At the height of the war, in July 1940, the German armed forces received more than 35 million doses of pervitin from the Temmler factory in Berlin. These pills were widely used by Wehrmacht soldiers and Luftwaffe pilots during the invasion of France. According to evidence, German soldiers, under the influence of pervitin, were able to stay awake and march without interruption for 36-50 hours, overcoming difficult terrain and lack of sleep, which greatly increased their combat effectiveness.
Historian Norman Ohler notes that it was Pervitin that became a key factor in the quick capture of France by the Nazis. He emphasizes that the Wehrmacht was not as strong as the Allies, and Hitler, aware of the weakness of his army and the lack of resources, had to rely on stimulants to compensate for the numerical and technical superiority of the enemy. As a result, the Germans were able to advance much faster than the Allies expected.
By the end of the war, when Germany was already losing, pharmacist Gerhard Orzechowski developed a new drug – chewing gum with cocaine, which allowed one-man submarine pilots to stay awake and awake for days on end. However, long-term use of these drugs in closed spaces led to serious mental disorders among the military. In 1945, after the Allies bombed the Temmler factories, the production of pervitin and eukodol was stopped, ending the mass drug use by Nazi troops.
It is worth noting that drugs were used not only by the Nazis. The Allies also used amphetamines to maintain morale and increase the endurance of their soldiers. American bomber pilots were given amphetamines to keep them alert and focused during long missions. In the Laurier Military Archives in Ontario, Canada, there are records that show the regular use of benzedrine sulfate in doses of 5 to 20 mg every five to six hours. It is estimated that millions of doses of amphetamines were consumed by the Allies during World War II, particularly during the Normandy landings and the invasion of Tarawa.
During war, it is difficult to maintain effective law enforcement, which leads to an increase in illegal drug trafficking. Due to military operations in many regions of Ukraine, access to medical services has become much more difficult. Hospitals and rehabilitation centers can be overwhelmed or overwhelmed by the needs of the injured and sick, making it difficult to provide specialized care to drug addicts. Some facilities have been forced to close or relocate, creating barriers to the continued treatment of drug addicts, particularly in substitution therapy (SRT) programs. The hostilities have caused disruptions in the logistics and supply of medications, including those used in RRT programs (methadone, buprenorphine). This particularly affects people who depend on constant access to these drugs and can lead to an increase in overdoses and a return to illegal drugs.
Many people have been forced to flee their homes by fighting, leading to an increase in internally displaced persons (IDPs). These people may have limited access to health care and social support, including drug addiction treatment. In addition, migration can facilitate the spread of drugs in new regions.
Drug trafficking during the war
The war in Ukraine not only changed the geopolitical situation in Europe, but also had a serious impact on the criminal world. According to report According to the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction and Europol, the war in eastern Ukraine has even affected global drug trafficking routes. In particular, Ukraine, which used to be an important transit point for heroin, has now found itself at the center of changes in the supply of drugs to the EU. According to the report, the main routes include the Balkan, Southern, Caucasian and Northern routes. In particular, the Caucasus route involved the transportation of large consignments of opiates from Iran to Europe, including the transportation of drugs across the Black Sea to Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine.
For a long time, Ukraine was an important transshipment point and storage place for heroin, which arrived via the northern and Caucasian routes. The drugs were first delivered to the port of Odessa, and then transported to Romania or Bulgaria. Ukraine has also been used as a place to store large quantities of heroin, similar to Moldova. The report notes that some members of Turkish (ethnic Kurdish) criminal gangs based in Germany moved to Ukraine and Moldova, where they set up shell companies to store drugs.
The heroin transport scheme worked as follows: cargoes were inspected at ports and then moved to other countries for temporary storage or repackaging before further distribution to their final destinations. At that time, criminal groups assessed the possible risks of discovering the cargo.
However, due to the war, sea routes, in particular the ferry service between Odessa and Batumi (Georgia), were interrupted, and trade was redirected to Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria. These changes had a significant impact on the illicit trafficking of heroin.
Criminal groups are now forced to find new ways to supply heroin to Europe, as the usual routes have become unavailable. One of the potential new ways could be transit through the Baltic states. In addition, due to the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, a significant amount of heroin, which was delivered to Ukraine, remained on its territory. However, experts believe that drugs can still be transported to the EU using land routes or convoys of humanitarian aid and refugees.
Another significant heroin supply route, currently under limited use, is the Northern Route, which runs from Afghanistan to Tajikistan, then through Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan, then through Russia and into the EU. Changes in the political and security situation at the borders of European countries with the Russian Federation, as well as sanctions against Russia, have significantly complicated the transportation of heroin by this route.
It should be noted that criminal groups are trying to adapt the Caucasian and Northern routes to the new conditions of drug transportation. However, given the restrictions, it can be assumed that activity on the Balkan and Southern routes will soon increase. The report also mentions the decision of the Taliban to ban the cultivation of opium poppy in Afghanistan, which is confirmed by UN data, which indicate a 95% reduction in cultivation. However, despite this, there are still no signs of a decrease in the amount of heroin on the European market, which indicates the adaptability and stability of drug cartels in new conditions.
Experience of foreign countries in the fight against drug addiction
According to the World Drug Report, published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, more than 11 million people worldwide inject drugs, half of whom live with hepatitis C. In the European Union, one in four citizens have used drugs at least once in life Citizens of the countries of the European Union annually spend about 24 billion euros on the purchase of illegal drugs.
The experience of different countries in the fight against drug addiction varies greatly, and some of these approaches are considered particularly effective. For example, Portugal decided to decriminalize all types of drugs. Instead of being prosecuted, people who use drugs are referred to treatment and rehabilitation. This approach has led to a decrease in drug use, a decrease in overdose deaths, and a decrease in the spread of HIV/AIDS among drug addicts.
Switzerland has introduced drug control programs that include providing drug addicts with medically pure heroin in controlled settings, as well as access to psychological support and social reintegration. This approach has helped reduce the level of drug-related crime and improve the quality of life of drug addicts.
The Netherlands has a policy that distinguishes “soft” drugs (such as marijuana) from “hard” drugs. The use of marijuana is allowed in special places – “kava shopah”, while the sale of other drugs remains criminalized. This helps reduce youth exposure to dangerous drugs and organized crime.
Iceland has focused on drug addiction prevention among young people, introducing national programs to increase physical activity, involvement in cultural activities and life skills training. Thanks to these measures, the level of drug use among young people has decreased significantly.
Canada has harm reduction programs that include the provision of clean needles and syringes and the operation of “injection rooms” where drug addicts can use drugs safely under the supervision of medical personnel. This has reduced overdose deaths and blood-borne diseases.
The US has revised its drug policy, moving from a tough approach to the fight against drugs by criminalizing and imprisoning people involved in drug use or distribution to treatment and rehabilitation. Some US states have decriminalized the use of marijuana or even completely legalized it. This made it possible to reduce the burden on the judicial system and focus resources on more dangerous drugs. The federal government is also actively involved in the fight against drugs by funding various treatment and prevention programs and supporting research into new drug addiction treatments. Special attention is paid to informing the younger generation about the risks of drug addiction. Schools and community organizations run drug prevention education programs, such as the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). They focus on educating young people about the risks of drug use and developing life skills that help them avoid drugs.
Therefore, war has always had a powerful impact on society, changing not only political and economic reality, but also criminal structures and the dynamics of social problems. Past cases demonstrate how extreme conditions can foster addiction and abuse. Today, in the context of the war in Ukraine, we again see how the conflict is changing drug trafficking, affecting the routes of heroin supply to the EU.
These changes indicate the adaptability and resilience of criminal groups, which quickly respond to new realities, looking for alternative routes and methods of drug delivery. At the same time, it emphasizes that war creates ideal conditions for the development of drug trafficking and addiction. The redistribution of drug trafficking through conflict regions such as Ukraine, and the search for new routes to supply drugs to Europe, shows the close connection between war and drug trafficking.
It is important to understand that such changes not only strengthen criminal structures, but also create new challenges for society. Increased levels of stress, uncertainty, and trauma among civilians in war also contribute to the spread of drug addiction, which becomes another invisible threat to combat. This process should include both increased security and monitoring, as well as increased public awareness and assistance for those suffering from addiction. This is the only way to effectively confront this multifaceted threat, which, like war, leaves behind devastating consequences.
