New processes of normalisation? Understanding changes in young people's drug use in the UK.
Background: Since teh late 1990s. there has been a long-term decline in substance use by young people in the UK. However, since 2015/16, whilst alcohol and tobacco use have continued to decline, use of some controlled drugs and associated indicators of harm have increased. This research, commissioned by the UK Department of Health and Social Care, sought to explore and theorise some of the factors underlying these changes.
Methods: As part of a larger, national mixed methods study, we undertook interviews (n=95) and focus groups (n=12) with 135 young people (49% female; aged 12-25 years, modal age 15-16 years) living in the UK (63% White British). This included young people receiving support from services, and those using drugs primarily in leisure settings. We utilised the social development model as a foundational theory, and for this analysis we applied the normalisation thesis to better understand how social norms and values towards drugs may change, and how their relative sociocultural position may shift compared to other substances. We undertook thematic analysis of data.
Results: Whilst we found continuities in key indicators of normalisation of some forms of drug use, we identified new and relevant processes which may help to explain recent changes. These included technological developments, which partly contributed to increased cultural and social accommodation of drug use. For example, new online technologies not only provided novel means of accessing drugs, including direct to consumer advertising, but global entertainment media platforms increased exposure to material presenting drug use and related issues in a positive or unexceptional ways (i.e. was not central to the narrative, was not morally framed). The global reach of new media allowed young people to access material and learn about drugs from territories with different policy environments and more liberal social attitudes. Young people were cognisant of new medical and therapeutic research into controlled drugs such as psychedelics, and the use of legally regulated cannabis products for ‘wellbeing’ practices. Reflecting some explanations for declines in youth alcohol use, direct comparisons were frequently made with other types of drug use. Alcohol was seen as less affordable and accessible than other drugs for many young people, and whilst other drugs were still recognised as being potentially harmful, alcohol was associated with relatively greater loss of control, risky consumption environments, and intoxication states that were more likely to lead to vulnerability and victimisation.
Conclusions: developers of prevention programmes and polices should be aware that the social contexts of young people’s drug use are dynamic, and are affected by global factors. Technological developments not only have implications for the delivery of prevention activities, but also how young people learn about and develop attitudes and values towards drugs and the people who use them.
