Unenforceable? How Young Britons Obtain Their Drugs

Abstract

In this chapter we look at how young people who try and use drugs actually obtain them. The normalisation of adolescent recreational drug use and the increases in drug use by young adults means most young Britons who use drugs are ‘normative’: nearly half are women, a high proportion are from conventional homes, many are becoming ‘responsible’ citizens. Most have no wish to come into personal contact with ‘real’ drug dealers and expose themselves to ‘risks’ in respect of trouble in criminal worlds, getting caught or buying ‘dodgy gear’.