Statement by Maximos Charakopoulos on World Day Against Drugs, with an emphasis on prevention, the family, and rehabilitation programs.
Charakopoulos: The role of family and education is crucial
On the occasion of World Day Against Drugs and Their Illicit Trafficking, the Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Group of New Democracy and Member of Parliament for Larissa, Maximos Charakopoulos, emphasized that the drug problem continues to plague Greek society, as many young people are lured by the illusion of “easy paradises,” which lead to ongoing personal and family hardships.
As he emphasized, tackling this phenomenon requires both the strict enforcement of restrictive measures, particularly against drug dealers, as well as the promotion of healthy role models and high values among young people, in order to strengthen addiction prevention.
He made special mention of the role of the family and education, noting that they are the fundamental institutions shaping young people’s personalities. As he noted, they have the responsibility to cultivate ideals, values, and the perseverance needed to achieve goals through life’s struggles.
Media and support structures: a shield for young people
At the same time, he pointed out that the media and social media have a decisive influence on younger generations. According to him, the glamorization or even the heroization of drug use and other deviant behaviors has serious consequences for young people, who have not yet developed sufficient psychological and intellectual resilience.
Finally, Mr. Charakopoulos emphasized the need to further strengthen support structures for those trying to recover from drug addiction, noting that they perform valuable social work by combining scientific knowledge with human solidarity. As he noted, they are true “ark of salvation and hope” and deserve the active support of both the government and the public.
