Why aren’t we talking about Gen Z drug use?

The Mix claims that only a quarter (28%) of substance users who have experienced these emotional challenges are using support services. This leaves over 2.2million young people who are experiencing substance abuse challenges but not accessing any support.

In many ways, it’s not hard to see why more of us are turning to drugs to get through the day.

The post-covid world may have freed us from the confines of lockdown, but with a worsening climate crisis, economic downturn, and political disaster all fronting the news, many of us would prefer to stay at home and hide away from grim realities.

These issues disproportionately impact young people, too. The cost of buying a home in the UK is at an all-time high, and a cost of living crisis means renting has become almost impossible as well.

Steve Rolles, policy analyst for the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, agrees that heavy drug use in Britain’s young people is a side effect of anxiety and depression.

Pre-existing issues like loneliness, social anxiety, and a lack of connection, have only been made worse by the pandemic. Now, young people are dealing with ‘an uncertain future’ as well as trying to ‘make up for lost time’.

The Mix is promoting these statistics in the hopes that stigmas around drug use can be put to bed.

More money needs to be channelled into drug support schemes, rather than enforcement budgets. The war on drugs only pushes young people to use in secret, alienating them from loved ones out of fear of judgement.

Among those who have struggled with drug use, a large proportion said they would seek support if needed.

That’s a 43% increase from 2021. This suggests that, while young people are growing more self-aware in understanding they should claim help when needed, they are still being failed by the support systems available.

‘We don’t help keep young people who use drugs safe by declaring a war on them’ says Steve Rolles, ‘Knowledge is power […] it’s really important that young people have access to honest, accurate information about drugs, their effects, the risks and how to manage them’.

Until we start talking about drugs realistically – embracing the fact that most of us have, and will, use them at some point – they will remain difficult to confront.