An Epidemic Sweeping Across Russia

Sometimes we're asked...

"If the people you help are so poor, how can they afford to take drugs in the first place?"

It is a good question, and the full array of answers would take forever to talk about.

One very sad explanation is that vulnerable people are intentionally preyed upon. They're offered 'free drugs' to feel good, to deliberately get them hooked. After this, they end up having to resort to degrading or criminal acts to pay for their addiction. This is a form of trafficking - 'Recruitment, with the aim of exploiting a person for profit' - and they achieve this by getting a person addicted.

Russia has long been infamous for its high proportion of people suffering with addiction. To add to the problem, a new, highly addictive and cheaper drug is doing the rounds. Its name is mephedrone and it is commonly known as 'salts'. Since the war started, this drug has sky-rocketed in popularity because other dangerous drugs like heroin are not so easily available. Some high-street chemists in Russia are making mephedrone in their back rooms and selling it online.

Tolerance levels rise fast, causing users to begin injecting, some as often as every 30 minutes to feel any effect. This chronic use leads to psychosis and cardio-vascular issues and has been the cause of many fatal overdoses. Being caught with the drug results in a prison sentence or a fine which puts most people off seeking help.

It was in 2020 that we first started to see several of our mums at the Women’s Crisis Centre with an addiction to this particular drug. ‘Salts’ seemed to be everywhere and many had been introduced by their husbands and partners who were already addicted.

“My children suffered. I didn't take them out, they missed school, I was constantly depressed, crying and having suicidal thoughts – it seemed there was no way out. I felt the children would be better off with anyone but me. My relationship with my husband fell apart. I was afraid, everyone knew I was addicted and that I’d begun injecting. I would have lost my children if the Centre had not helped me.” - Tatiana

“I fell in love and married, but my husband became an addict so I also started using. We had a small baby so when my husband was unconscious one night I packed my baby's things and ran to the centre to escape the nightmare.” - Aneshka

“My father was a drug and alcohol addict and I first tried mephedrone at age 15. I didn’t become addicted until later when I began a relationship. My partner used, and I resisted until my birthday party. That was the start of me using every day… until I came to this Centre.” - Vika

This drug has become so popular that users claim it's harder to find a person who doesn’t use it than one who does. It has destroyed families and the problem is likely to get worse. The annual death toll has more than doubled in the last few years and numbers are sure to rise as traumatised soldiers return home.

Both crisis centre teams have extensive experience helping addicts to get clean. They use buddy systems and counselling. But the best tool they have at their disposal is the Gospel.

Abused young mum Milena who was given mephedrone by her partner came to the Centre in the last year. She is now working to complete her education, she takes part in all their activities and her three-year-old daughter is thriving. Best of all, she is open to learning about Jesus.

The mephedrone situation in Russia does seem bleak, but even in this darkness, Jesus is bringing light into these circumstances, still saving, and turning lives around.

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