The Culture of Youth and Drug Abuse in Some European Countries

Abstract

Old patterns of education are being replaced in some European countries by the different ideological norms of the various groups composing modern society. Youth has lost the sure feeling to belong to a certain culture. Drug abuse primarily represents an attempt to get over this insecurity. In an inquiry in Swiss military schools, recruits were questioned about drug and alcohol use and cigarette smoking, and this was related to the home situation. Juveniles who do not have enough affective support in the primary group seem to be more subject to the conflicts of norms going on in our society. Three general factors seem to be responsible for the drug use among juveniles: (1) the family situation of childhood, (2) the conflicts of norms of the society in which they are involved, and (3) the milieu provocation.