Part 3/8:
Moreover, significant population losses due to historical events, most notably the World Wars, disrupted family structures. Millions of Russians were either killed in battle or separated from their families for extended periods, making family formation increasingly challenging.
The Social Challenges: Addiction and Economic Decline
The second trend affecting Russia's birth rate stems from rampant alcoholism and drug addiction. The country has a long history of vodka consumption, and the normalization of alcohol consumption has created a public health crisis that significantly impacts mortality rates. The influx of heroin from Afghanistan in the 1980s further complicated the situation, leading to a staggering number of addicts contributing to high death rates.