Young people, drugs...and others

This paper reviews the emotional and relational difficulties associated with the crisis of adolescence, drug dependence being only one of the possible disorders. The use of drugs, perceived as a temporary self-defence measure in the struggle against a relatively serious state of depression possibly leading to suicide, is often also a form of aggression against the self. In addition, the creation, for example, by television or the supermarkets of artificial neo-needs encourages young people to expect magic, external solutions to their problems. The deficiency of imagination found among young people reflects the inadequacy of the ideals of early childhood (which are totally out of tune with reality). By setting themselves inordinately high goals in compensation, young people exaggerate the exterior ideal demands only to reject them later on because they are unattainable. The author argues against the setting up of primary prevention agencies specializing in the problems of adolescence and argues the case for positive primary preventive action in the field of health.