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OSCE Workshop Tackles Rising Drug Crisis Among Youth in Central Asia

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Dushanbe, Tajikistan – 3 October 2024 – In an urgent response to the escalating drug crisis impacting youth across Central Asia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) convened a regional workshop focusing on the prevention of drug use and the supply of new psychoactive substances (NPS). The two-day event, held on 2 and 3 October, brought together over 40 experts, policymakers, and law enforcement professionals from various Central Asian nations, alongside representatives from several international organizations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union.

During the workshop’s opening session, Maksudjon Duliyev, the head of the UNODC office in Tajikistan, expressed grave concerns regarding the global drug crisis, citing the latest World Drug Report, which revealed that 292 million people worldwide engage in drug use, yet only one in eleven individuals with drug use disorders receives adequate treatment. “Behind these numbers are real lives—families forever changed by this crisis,” Duliyev stated, underscoring the human toll of the epidemic.

Duliyev further highlighted the rising threat from NPS, reporting that 566 new substances were identified globally in 2022, with 44 classified as new, underscoring the urgent need for effective prevention strategies targeting vulnerable youth populations.

Ambassador Willy Kempel, head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, reiterated the gravity of the situation, linking it to established drug production and smuggling routes originating from neighboring Afghanistan. “The critical need for regional collaboration cannot be overstated,” Kempel remarked, emphasizing the necessity of cultivating ongoing cooperation efforts to combat the drug crisis effectively.

Addressing the same issues, Miguel de Domingo, Head of Unit for Security, Peace, and Development at the Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamérica de Administración y Políticas Públicas (FIIAPP), pointed to the rapid proliferation of NPS as a new challenge for public health. “The role of digital platforms in the distribution of NPS is particularly concerning,” de Domingo noted, calling for increased monitoring and regulation to curb the growing influence of these substances among young people.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in discussions surrounding various pertinent topics, including emerging trends in drug trafficking, risk and protective factors influencing NPS use, and the critical role of international cooperation in establishing early warning systems and rapid response strategies. The emphasis on evidence-based prevention programs tailored specifically for young people was a focal point of many discussions, illustrating a commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by this demographic.

The event concluded with a call for joint efforts and sustained cooperation across countries to effectively mitigate the threats posed by NPS and other illicit drugs. As Central Asia grapples with this pressing issue, the urgency for collaborative action and innovative prevention strategies has never been clearer, promising a more cautious future for the region’s youth.

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Four executed for producing illegal alcohol in Iran

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Iranian authorities have executed end of October four people convicted of selling illegal alcohol, which poisoned and killed 17 people last year. More than 190 people who consumed the dangerous drink were hospitalized.

The death sentence against the accused in the case was carried out in the Karaj Central Jail.

According to human rights organizations including Amnesty International, Iran carries out the highest number of executions per year after China.

After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Tehran banned the production and consumption of alcoholic beverages. Since then, the sale of illegal alcohol on the black market has flourished, leading to mass poisonings. The latest case, reported by Iranian media, has killed around 40 people in northern Iran in recent months.

Only Iran’s recognized Christian minorities, such as the country’s Armenian community, are allowed to produce and consume alcohol, but discreetly and only at home.

Illustrative Photo by Amanda Brady: https://www.pexels.com/photo/elegant-champagne-coupes-in-sunlit-setting-29157921/

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What is food neophobia – the fear of trying new dishes

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Everyone has heard of anorexia and bulimia. But these eating disorders are far from the only ones.

There are people around the world who can only eat certain colored foods. Still others are addicted to water. About 5% of women between the ages of 15 and 35 are affected by some type of eating disorder. Among them are those with neophobia – the inability to try a new type of food. This problem sometimes also affects young children. For them, experts advise parents not to force them, but to explain to them the benefits of a given product. It is also an option to put them on the table in the company of other children who will set a good example.

Neophobia usually disappears around the age of 6. For some people, however, it remains a problem for much longer.

A possible explanation for this condition could be something happening in the person’s life – like choking on food, for example. As a result, a person may begin to avoid a certain type of food and thus give his phobia a “field of expression”.

The reasons for neophobia may lie not only in the psyche, but also in physical features. This disorder is genetically transmitted.

Illustrative Photo by Chan Walrus: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-and-brown-cooked-dish-on-white-ceramic-bowls-958545/

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How to deal with atychiphobia?

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Imagine this: every little mistake or failure doesn’t just bother you, it paralyzes you to the point where you can’t move forward. This is the reality for people suffering from atychiphobia – the fear of failure. While it is natural for many to feel uncomfortable when they do not achieve their goals, for people with this phobia, this fear becomes an insurmountable challenge that affects their daily life and personal growth. But what exactly is atychiphobia and how can we recognize and overcome it?

Atychiphobia manifests as an intense, irrational fear of failure that can affect even the most mundane daily activities. Instead of seeing failure as part of the learning process, people with this phobia point to every mistake as evidence of their own incompetence. This leads to a series of emotional, cognitive and behavioral symptoms that make it difficult to cope with this fear.

What is atychiphobia and how does it manifest itself?

Atychiphobia often begins at an early age, when the child begins to see failure as something that defines his worth. According to a study published in “Advances in Applied Sociology,” many adolescents admit that fear of failure causes them to experience stress, uncertainty, and anxiety. Adults who continue to experience this fear tend to avoid any situation that could lead to failure—whether it’s professional development or personal goals.

Characteristic manifestations of atychiphobia include excessive perfectionism, constant self-criticism and fear of making mistakes. Cognitive distortions are common – people think that any mistake is unforgivable and that they themselves are a failure if they fail at a task. These thoughts often lead to emotional overload, apathy, low self-esteem and fear of external criticism.

Causes of atychiphobia

The development of this irrational fear can be the result of various factors. Some people experience atychiphobia as a result of past negative experiences – be it public humiliation for a mistake or rejection by a loved one. Psychological trauma leaves deep wounds and can cause an individual to associate failure with pain and shame.

Low self-esteem, anxiety disorders, and perfectionism are also common factors that contribute to the development of atychiphobia. In addition, cultural and social expectations of failure-free success can reinforce this fear, especially in competitive environments where failure is stigmatized.

How to deal with atychiphobia?

The first step to overcoming the fear of failure is recognizing the problem and understanding that this fear is common and treatable. It is important to reframe how we perceive failure. Instead of seeing it as the end result, we can see it as a stepping stone to success. Overcoming this fear requires a change in thought patterns – failure is not something that defines us, but something that teaches us and helps us grow.

Therapeutic approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy can be extremely helpful in this process. The therapist can help the sufferer identify and change negative attitudes and develop strategies to deal with anxiety and fear of failure. Additionally, practicing stress management techniques such as meditation and yoga can help reduce anxiety and provide better control over emotions.

Ultimately, atychiphobia can be overcome with time, effort and support. Failure is an inevitable part of life and the greatest lessons often come from mistakes. The important thing is to accept failure as part of the process of personal and professional growth, and to move forward with the confidence that each mistake is just another step on the road to success.

Illustrative Photo by Markus Winkler: https://www.pexels.com/photo/scrabble-letters-spelling-fear-on-a-wooden-table-19902302/

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