| Abstract [eng] |
LONG TERM UNEMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION OF DRUG ADDICTS (KLAIPĖDA, 2000-2008) SUMMARY Drug addiction is an especially relevant issue in Klaipėda Port. If reviewing the years 2000-2008, the number of drug users registered in this city had been increasing since the year 2000, and it should be noted that the HIV prevalence rate in 2008 was the highest in comparison with other Lithuanian cities. Addiction to psychoactive substances determines many social problems, not only medical, but also psychological. Weak relations with close relatives, the negative attitude of the society towards these persons, unemployment, lack of education, and problems of social nature are causes that mostly condition the social exclusion of persons addicted to narcotic substances. In order to prevent consequences caused by drug addiction it is necessary to provide for these persons proper conditions to recover and to return to a full-rate life. Therefore, this Master thesis sought to reveal factors determining the social exclusion of drug users and possibilities for their integration into society in Klaipėda. For this purpose there were raised a thesis and two hypotheses. Thesis: main factors determining the social exclusion of drug users in Klaipėda are long-term unemployment, financial, criminal, night-stay and health problems, conflicts with family and the people round about, lack of possibilities for social integration and negative attitude of the society. Hypotheses: 1. Long-term unemployment mostly influences the social exclusion of drug users in Klaipėda; 2. Possibilities for the integration of drug users into society in Klaipėda are limited. In order to prove the thesis, two empirical-research methods were used: questionnaire survey and structured interview. The findings of the questionnaire survey have shown that drug users in Klaipėda suffer from long-term unemployment, which in its turn influences other problems arising to them. By the way, despite the lack of measures oriented to the social integration of drug users, the survey of the society (by interview method) has revealed that the attitude of Klaipėda residents towards these persons is negative. Therefore, it may be stated that the hypotheses raised in the Master thesis have proved out, thus demonstrating the correctness of the main thesis. |
