VI. Answer the following questions:
l.What is the percentage of the middle class in large
cities of Russia? 2. What was the aim of the survey in provinces?
Text 4
I. Read the article and state its main problem:
Survey Smokes Out Increasing Drug Use Among Young
The Instutute of Social Research at the Russian Government Academy has carried out a detailed survey *° determine public attitudes and experts' opinions
English
for Psychologists and Sociologists
Sociology. Unit XII
towards drug taking and drug users. The results of this research were not encouraging — the age of drug users is falling.
Experts in this field consider that the highest risk category is school and university students. Teenagers themselves also consider that it is the under-18s who suffer most from drug problems. The next group is 18-30, after which the problem disappears almost entirely.
The accuracy of this assessment is confirmed by answers to the question: «Where is it easiest to get hold of drugs?» While the experts and relatives of drug users stated: «Mainly at markets, and then discotheques and parties for the young, and finally, in the drug pushers' flats,» teenagers gave the more accurate reply that it was firstly at the drug pushers' flats, then parties, and finally, markets that drugs are most readily available. Incidentally, almost none of the teenagers mentioned the mass media as a source of information on the dangers of drug abuse. They get their information from their peers (80 percent), or from knowing adults.
An absolute majority of experts believes that the present situation with drug abuse is the result of a decline in morals and culture, and also of the poor work of the health protection agencies and the explosion in crime (one in three respondents are convinced that the police have links with the drug mafia). Both groups say the main reasons for a partiality towards drugs is the influence of friends who are already drug users, lack of interesting work, boredom and nothing to do, and finally, too much money.
About one third of teenagers are strongly negative in their attitude to drug-taking among their peers: «It is a serious illness warranting compulsory treatment.» Then about another third were completely loyal: «It is a stupid habit like smoking or alcohol. They grow up and give up-»
By contrast, relatives of drug takers have already learnt from bitter experience. Almost twice as often as other
respondents they expressed the view that if a member of one's family shows signs of drug addiction, one should immediately seek specialist help.
The problem is that the specialised medical institutions work inadequately. The clinics and hospitals are poor and squalid; there is a shortage of doctors dealing with drug users; and those who do so are under-qualified and have only a hazy conception of the experience acquired in other countries which could be of benefit to Russia (so say 56 percent of specialists).
With regard to social help for drug users, experts are even more pessimistic — 86 percent have little belief in its potential. At the same time it is social and psychological rehabilitation which almost all experts believe to be one of the most necessary and efficacious means of helping drug users. Few respondents supported the idea of creating special jobs for drug users. On the other hand, 41 percent of teenagers suggested that disposable syringes be distributed free to drug users. Of the experts, 27 percent were in favor and 47 percent against.
Almost half of the respondents are anxious for tougher laws to fight the drug mafia. Sixty four percent of experts are categorically against the legalisation of drug use. But all the same, half of respondents believe that there is an obvious first preventive step: people close to someone who is involved in the cycle of depravity should try to convince them that the stake in this game is their own life. A first step, but one that might well have a positive effect in the formidable battle against drug use.
II. Read the article once more and render its contents *л Russian.
III. Give Russian equivalents for:
To determine public attitudes; to suffer from drug Problems; accuracy of the assessment; mass media; to Prevent situation with drug abuse; a decline in morals