UK drug use increases over the summer, new study finds

People in the UK consume more alcohol and drugs in the summer, and this has increased post-lockdown — a new study has found.

Research and analysis by Delamere found that illegal, recreational drug use is more popular in the summer months, particularly for substances such as cannabis, MDMA, cocaine and ketamine.

According to the study, cannabis use is more prevalent in the summer, with 69% of British people surveyed claiming to have taken the drug.

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It also found that 50% of people stated they have used ‘legal’ highs during this season, 58% for MDMA, 53% for ketamine, and 65% for cocaine.

Cannabis use has increased significantly over the past year (44%), and ketamine use has also grown by 53%.

Martin Preston of Delamere says: “As ketamine is renowned for offering a numbing effect, as well as one that allows the user to feel ‘detached’, it could be said that more people have turned to it since the pandemic due to the trauma that time period caused for many Brits.

“These people could have suffered a loss at the hands of the coronavirus. They could have also experienced a decline in their mental health, which is why the prospect of feeling almost nothing could seem very appealing.”

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The study also found that the pandemic has had an effect on drug use, with more people taking recreational drugs in the post-lockdown era.

It also found that 66% of people in the UK generally drink more when they’re on holiday. Preston says: “Holidays have always been seen as a free pass to over-consume as much as possible, with the mindset that normality would resume when the vacation was over.

“However, this could always be easier said than done, as a recent article highlighted that all-inclusive holidays were ‘on the rise’ since the end of the pandemic – suggesting that more people than ever are keen to take advantage of the excessive amount of booze on offer.”

Recently, other research has shown that more adolescents and adults than ever before are taking psychedelic drugs in the USA.

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Read the full set of findings from Delamere here.

Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter