Drug use and living conditions of unaccompanied minors

This note first reviews the process of administrative recognition of the status of unaccompanied minors and the socio-demographic characterisation of this population. It then discusses the drug uses of unaccompanied minors (recognised or perceived as such) observed since 2016 by the network of eight sites in the OFDT's Emerging Trends and New Drugs (TREND) observation scheme.

The data documents the situation of those most visible in the public space: adolescents or adult young men, of ten f rom North Af rica, sleeping in squatted f lats or other makeshif t shelters and involved in petty crime f or reasons of economic survival. Their drug uses are mainly concentrated on a f ew medicines (mainly benzodiazepines, pregabalin and tramadol) and can only be understood in the context of the interplay between lif e in their country of origin, migration, and their situation of extreme poverty in France. Under these conditions, access to care and social support f or these drug users is a central issue.

Publication type
Briefing papers
Publication date
Language
Français
Author(s)
GÉROME
Clément
PROTAIS
Caroline
GUILBAUD
Fabrice
Edited by
OFDT
Number of pages
20
ISBN
979-10-92728-60-6
Products & addictions
Alcohol
Benzodiazepines and gabapentinoids
Cannabis
Others
Themes
Users
Specific population(s)
Adolescents
Vulnerable groups
Territories
France