How do economic recessions influence illicit drug use?

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…