Young people, recreational drug use, and safer practices in a changing world: Futuring harm reduction

Samenvatting (Engelstalig)

This PhD research uses qualitative methods to explore how young people in Amsterdam and London navigate recreational drug use. Focusing on their lived experiences, it shows how they actively reduce harm—both through official services and informal peer support like drug-checking, careful dosing, and sharing advice. The study highlights that many young people are mindful and responsible in how they manage risks and pleasures, challenging common stereotypes. It also examines how harm reduction practices were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, when isolation made safer use more difficult. The research argues for harm reduction approaches that take young people’s perspectives seriously and support their safety without judgment.