Imagine a world where addiction doesn’t choose — it doesn’t care about age, job, family, or social status. While the number of new heroin addicts is dropping, society is chilling out and downplaying the dangers of drugs. But wait, it’s not that simple! Cocaine and amphetamines, those “glamorous” stimulants, are slowly but surely taking over our lives, and society often fails to see this as a serious problem.
Addiction in Disguise
At first glance, life looks normal: work, family, daily routine. But inside, addiction is quietly stealing everything. The special hospital Vita reports that the average opioid addict patient is about 41 years old with a long history of illness. However, a worrying trend is that more and more people are coming for treatment because of stimulants like cocaine and amphetamines. And these aren’t some fringe folks — these are successful people, doctors, professors, lawyers, with stable lives and careers.
Cocaine as a Status Symbol? Seriously!
Cocaine and alcohol become part of the image, and addiction often goes unrecognized for a long time. “I worked, had responsibilities, then relaxed on weekends. There were periods of abstinence, but the drug was always there in the background,” says a former addict. This “weekend addiction” is dangerous because society treats stimulants as something lighter, less harmful. But once you cross the line, there’s no easy way back.
Social Acceptance — A Dangerous Illusion
Experts warn about the relativization of drug harm and the idea that there are “soft” and “hard” drugs. This social acceptance of stimulant use is a serious risk. Addiction erases boundaries, changes relationships, and leaves consequences that aren’t visible at first glance. Treatment is often the last attempt to save what’s left of a life.
Shocking Statistics
In Serbia, the number of new heroin addicts is falling, but the number of those treated for cocaine and amphetamine addiction is rising. The average patient at the special hospital Vita is a 37-year-old man, married, with a high school education, who has spent years trying to quit addiction. But stimulants bring new challenges — users are younger, with shorter disease histories, but with serious problems society often ignores.
What Does This Tell Us?
Are we ready to openly talk about stimulant addiction? Will we allow social acceptance and the glamor of cocaine and amphetamines to destroy lives? Or will we finally realize that addiction doesn’t choose and it’s time for a serious fight?
If you thought addiction was only a problem for the marginalized, think again. Maybe it’s time to look around and ask yourself — how many people in your circle are really at risk? And if you have some crazy story or experience, feel free to drop a comment — maybe your story will change someone’s view of the world!
