Economic Hardships and Patterns of Drug Consumption in Europe
Submitted by Ally
- 30 August 2017
A new study recently published in the Journal of Health Economics considers the changes in patterns of drug consumption and attitudes towards substances among youth (15-24) across 28 European countries.
Of particular interest for the investigation was the way in which these relate to high levels of unemployment following the 2008 economic crisis.
Listed below are the study’s key findings:
- As unemployment increased, so too did consumption of cannabis and New Psychoactive Substances among young Europeans.
- Higher unemployment may also be associated with an increase in the number of young people who perceive drugs to be difficult to access. This was particularly the case for ecstasy, cocaine and heroin.
- Many young Europeans felt that anti-drugs policies should look to reduce poverty and unemployment, rather than imposing tougher sanctions upon users, at times of economic hardship.
Click here to read more in the Journal of Health Economics.
