Tue. Dec 10th, 2024

Lisbon, 6 September 2024

A new report out today from the EU Drugs Agency (EUDA) sheds light on how economic downturns can impact the use of illicit drugs. The publication — The impact of economic recessions on the use of illicit drugs: findings from a scoping literature review — highlights how young people and socioeconomically vulnerable groups are disproportionately affected during times of recession.

The impact of economic downturns on public health and, more specifically, on the use of alcohol and tobacco, has received significant attention in recent years. However, understanding of the effects of recessions on the use of illicit drugs remains under-researched. The review presents preliminary findings, highlights gaps in current research and raises questions for future work in this area.

‘This is an issue with increasing relevance, bearing in mind the global economic outlook has been particularly volatile in recent years’, states the report. ‘Recent global events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have caused volatility in the global economy.

The review is based on 25 studies up to 2020, mainly relating to Europe and the United States. The majority of the studies (17) focused on the 2008 economic recession, while others covered a recession before that date. Most of the studies (21) used labour market variables (e.g. unemployment) as indicators of the economic cycle, while others used domestic income as a proxy or ‘other’ variables (e.g. median house price, household wealth, international trade shocks).

Overall, the studies suggest that the impact of economic downturns on drug use is complex and multifaceted and that the factors determining the type and intensity of this impact are multi-layered. Based on this finding, a detailed analysis was undertaken by age group and by types of illicit drug (across all age groups).

It is difficult to generalise and reach definitive conclusions as to how economic recessions impact illicit drug use, yet some patterns of potential significance do emerge when focusing on certain population groups and types of drug. These include:

  • young and already vulnerable population groups appear to be most affected;
  • cannabis use may increase during economic downturns among teenagers and young adults;
  • riskier patterns of use, such as switching from smoking or snorting to injecting drugs, may increase during periods of economic downturns.

The report highlights the need to closely monitor drug use among young people during periods of economic recession. The use of drugs by teenagers and young adults (under 35) was analysed in 18 out of the 25 studies included in the review. Although results varied significantly by substance, a considerable number of studies found that cannabis use among teenagers and young adults increased in periods of economic recession.

The scoping review underlines the need for further research in this area. While, the results presented are mixed, and current research is limited, they contribute to a stronger understanding of the possible impact of recession on the drug situation in Europe. A better grasp of how the economy affects drug use and supply will help improve Europe’s response to emerging health and security threats.

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