A study funded by the Faculty for Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta, with support from Caritas Malta, surveyed 400 Maltese young adults (aged 18-30) who had never used drugs for non-medical reasons.
The results provide a statistically detailed insight into the attitudes toward drug use among abstainers.
Among the respondents, 77% reported having no interest in drugs, a figure significantly higher than those who indicated difficulties in accessing drugs (62% stating drugs were not easily available, and 61% saying drugs were too expensive).
Health concerns emerged as a critical factor: 98% of participants stressed that they did not wish their health to be negatively affected by drug use, with 96% fearing the development of addiction.
Additionally, 95% expressed concerns about the potential adverse impact on memory, concentration, and work or study performance, while another 95% feared losing control of their actions.
Social consequences also played a significant role, with 91% agreeing that drug use could negatively affect intimate relationships and an identical percentage indicating that their family, partner, or peers would disapprove.
Interestingly, only 53% believed that drug use was always harmful, and 44.7% were open to the possibility that some drugs might be acceptable under certain circumstances: 18.5% felt moderate use could be acceptable, and 18% considered responsible drug use potentially beneficial, with 8.8% supporting personal choice.
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