Drugs and Alcohol (young people)
Reasons for stopping or cutting down on drug use
- Being worried about their health or mental health
- Changes in their lives (like starting a new relationship or having a child)
- Worries about addiction, bad experiences with drugs or after effects
- Relationships with family
- Money
- Losing contact with suppliers or dealers
- Growing up, preferring to feel in control and moving on from what some described as boring, teenage behaviour
Some of the people we talked to told us that they used cannabis to help them to relax but those who decided to stop using cannabis (in all its forms) and other illegal drugs often did so for health reasons. Joe wanted to get fit and decided that he needed to stop smoking tobacco. Stephanie too decided to give up tobacco after a relative was diagnosed with lung cancer. She also didn’t like the way that cannabis made her feel tired with no motivation. Experiencing anxiety and paranoia could make people feel that they were much better off not taking any drugs (see Mental health and drugs). Sam started to give up skunk eight years ago and saw his mental health improve. He thinks that young people don’t realise the dangers of cannabis.
Jamie uses cannabis occasionally but is wary of paying for drugs, like ecstasy, that may have been mixed in with other substances.
Jamie uses cannabis occasionally but is wary of paying for drugs, like ecstasy, that may have been mixed in with other substances.
Sam has experienced mental health problems and thinks they were caused by his use of cannabis (skunk). (Played by an actor)
Sam has experienced mental health problems and thinks they were caused by his use of cannabis (skunk). (Played by an actor)
And you know cannabis was first out and I felt so much better. You know, I thought it would be really hard because that was one of our set routines but I managed to sort of step out of that and I just started smoking more because I was smoking nicotine like so I just started smoking more and that sort of covered me for that. Yeah it was a bit weird at first but now if I was in a situation where someone was smoking cannabis it wouldn’t even bother me like you know. Don’t even interest me in the slightest because I know what it does to me. And that’s what makes me laugh when people like go ‘Oh yeah cannabis is ok’. It’s like actually I know it’s not. It's really not.
Craig is far more aware of the dangers of cocaine now. He is also convinced that smoking cannabis caused his paranoia.
Craig is far more aware of the dangers of cocaine now. He is also convinced that smoking cannabis caused his paranoia.
Karis says that she looks better since cutting down her cannabis use.
Karis says that she looks better since cutting down her cannabis use.
Pregnancy and parenthood were described as powerful reasons to give up using illegal drugs. Young people we talked to didn’t think it appropriate to get high, or drunk, when they were responsible for children. When Karis had a job working with children she didn’t use cannabis during the week.
The young mothers we talked to had given up using drugs after they found out they were expecting a baby.
Tara doesn’t take drugs anymore because she wants to be a good mum to her little boy.
Tara doesn’t take drugs anymore because she wants to be a good mum to her little boy.
Leah says she doesn’t use drugs because it would ruin her daughter’s life as well as her own.
Leah says she doesn’t use drugs because it would ruin her daughter’s life as well as her own.
Peter doesn’t smoke cannabis when his son is with him and Raphael said that he thinks he will stop using cannabis when he becomes a father.
Worries about addiction
Addiction or dependency on drugs can make a person’s life miserable. Young people who had overcome addiction stressed that their personal life is much better and they are now able to plan for their future. Jim had lost family, friends and a home to his heroin addiction. Now that he is clean he doesn’t take for granted his child, girlfriend, flat and job – all of which provide motivation to avoid illegal drugs. For Harry, who has recovered from cannabis-induced psychosis, going back to his drug-taking days would feel like a personal failure.
Jim lost his family, friends and home due to his heroin addiction.
Jim lost his family, friends and home due to his heroin addiction.
Harry has three main reasons for not taking drugs anymore: health, a sense of personal achievement and the public’s negative attitude to drugs.

Harry has three main reasons for not taking drugs anymore: health, a sense of personal achievement and the public’s negative attitude to drugs.
Those who stopped or cut down on their use of drugs, often said they felt better as a result.
Charlie says that she feels happier and lighter now that she is drinking and using drugs less. She has come to value being present in her own mind and body and sees this as a ‘virtuous’ circle which helps her to deal with things better.
Charlie is happy with using alcohol and drugs as an occasional ‘enhancer’, but doesn’t rely on them to make social situations easier.

Charlie is happy with using alcohol and drugs as an occasional ‘enhancer’, but doesn’t rely on them to make social situations easier.
I’ve barely been drinking and barely taking many substances recently.
It’s been much lighter and much, yeah much happier, much happier generally which means I have less of a desire to take substances. They’re interesting as a social lubricant or they’re something interesting to do with friends but they’re not an escape. It’s fun to do – it’s fun to drink, it’s fun to take Ecstasy if you go on a night out but it’s not got the same kind of trying to forget what’s actually going on in life. It’s more of an enhancer to what’s going on.
Like I’ve come to value an awful lot being present in my own mind and body I got into and I’m just getting into Buddhism again actually in that Buddhism is very much about being present in one’s body.
If you use drugs very often I think you tend to drift a lot more because you’re spending more of your time intoxicated. You’re spending less time interacting with people. I’d much rather for example, learn. I’ve always had issues with some sort of social interaction. I’ve never been particularly able talking to strangers. I get anxious in social situations. And drugs have been a way to ease off that a little bit. And now I’m in the place where I’d much rather learn to interact and go through all that instead of using drugs to make it easier. Because ultimately I don’t want to need a crutch to get by. See yeah there’s a very strong element of wanting to be in control.
Chloe says that she can’t allow herself to take any drugs because she is too obsessive to use them in moderation. She prefers to experience life naturally.
Chloe says that she can’t allow herself to take any drugs because she is too obsessive to use them in moderation. She prefers to experience life naturally.
Last reviewed : July 2018.
Last updated: January 2015.