Drug Abuse in Britain

Abstract

The pattern of drug abuse by young people in Britain over the past decade or so is described. The London heroin epidemic of the 1960s appears to have been checked by the 1968 regulations and the abuse of amphetamines has declined, with more cautious prescribing habits by British doctors. On the other hand, cannabis and lysergide misuse is more widely prevalent throughout the country. Unlike the U.S.A. there is no direct link between drugs and violence or major crime, although a proportion of drug takers are also delinquent. Similarly, there is no particular connexion between drugs and pornography. It is fashionable to consider that we live in a ‘permissive society’, but it may be more aptly described as a ‘rebellious society’ in which the great majority (but unfortunately not all) of young people is able to handle its emancipation responsibly.