Young adults turn to prescription pills as a 'cleaner' alternative to alcohol
A growing number of people in their twenties are using prescription drugs like pregabalin and propranolol to ease social anxiety and mimic the effects of drinking, despite health risks and lack of medical supervision.
Matt, a 22-year-old warehouse worker from northern England, replaced binge drinking with illegal purchases of pregabalin and propranolol after discovering them on social media, saying the combination gives him a euphoric, anxiety-free experience without a hangover. Health professionals stress that using such medicines without a prescription, especially at high doses, can lead to dependence, heightened anxiety, insomnia, suicidal thoughts and, in extreme cases, death.
A recent U.K. study found that over a quarter of people in their early twenties report high anxiety, and a Drinkaware survey showed a rise in abstention from alcohol among 18-24-year-olds, fueling a market for “social drugs” marketed as safer alternatives. Influencers promote “stacking” pills online, and the global demand for pregabalin has surged, with death-certificate mentions climbing sharply between 2020 and 2024. While some argue the drugs may be less harmful than heavy drinking, experts warn that unregulated sourcing and misuse pose significant health risks and may reinforce reliance on chemicals for everyday social interactions.
Why it matters
Young people are substituting risky, unsupervised drug use for alcohol, raising public-health concerns about dependence and overdose.
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