On the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking marked on 26 June the Municipal Day Center for children with delinquent behavior opened doors to remind the public of the causes urging teenagers to try narcotic drugs and alcohol and to show that hope is behind every systematic effort for helping them fight off addiction.

Here are some statistics: one in three children in Bulgaria has tried drugs. Most often teenagers try marijuana. It is fairly easy to buy stuff on the black market.

“Use of narcotic substances results in addiction but they also have effects that are desired for teenagers”, explains psychologist Evelina Peycheva, in charge of the center’s latest program. “Most have tried marijuana and it should not be tolerated. Others have used amphetamines and cocaine. When a child starts using marijuana and has a genetic predisposition to mental disorders the latter might occur with greater frequency.”

Unfortunately, teenagers are not aware of the consequences of taking stimulants.

“We define drug use as problematic when consequences become obvious – in both social and health terms”, Evelina Peycheva explains. “After all, for a young guy it is quite unusual to discuss health. This is the priority of the middle-aged population and of the elderly. The young have zero fears of poor health. When the family is troubled by problems and the relationship with parents is broken or ailing children look for an alternative. It is therefore paramount to work with the whole family”, the psychologist says. “The youngest participant in our program is 12 years old. He first tried alcohol with friends and then continued with marijuana. He, like the rest of the kids, was brought to the center by his parents. A necessary requirement for teenagers to join the program is to be clean of drugs. After that they are being periodically tested for use of prohibited substances. Ten years ago when I started work in this area people were mostly using heroin and today the most used substance is a stimulant. Stimulants are boosting substances, and heroin is a prostrating substance. The dynamism of our daily round is so intense that it urges young people to use stimulants more often to respond to daily challenges.”

Ivo and Annie (the names are not real) have been visiting the center for a few years now. Both refuse to talk about the problem that led them to the program.

„I started visiting here together with friends”, Ivo says. “In the past I was asocial and were not going out with people.”

Today Ivo communicates freely with many people. Here is more from Annie:.

„Here I have made new friends that I like and people who have taught me new things. The center advises me about life and how to deal with problems. My parents are satisfied that I try to find out more about life. And my life has changed with the new friendships and besides, I have learned how to make out more about myself and to understand others better too. I have learned that I have to be more perseverant and to trust in myself more. Before that I took myself for someone less important and did not see in me the things I see now.”

As long as five years are needed so that teenagers with addictions could deal with their problem, The center is not expected to follow their fate after they leave the program. From time to time though some of them call back just to say “I’m fine!”