Young People's Drug Use: facts and feelingsÂimplications for the normalization debate

Abstract

Much is known about patterns of drug use by young people-especially in terms of measures of 'ever' usage; but relatively little is known about young people's feelings about such usage. This paper will present findings of a quantitative study based on a previous qualitative study. Findings are reported on: drug use; views on the use of cannabis, amphetamines and heroin; views on the health risks of various drugs; and the relationship between reported drug use and expressed views. The findings are discussed in relation to the extent to which illegal drug use can be considered to be 'normalized' as part of young people's lives, towards the end of their compulsory schooling. Whilst the findings provide some evidence for both sides of the 'normalization debate', it is concluded that there is only weak evidence that normalization, even of cannabis use, is true for young people of this age (15-16 years old). However, if drug use is increasing and the age of onset of such use decreasing, then for these young people as they get older, and for future cohorts at the end of their compulsory schooling, normalization of certain forms of drug use may occur.