Key Facts

• A 22-year-old man from England uses prescription drugs without a doctor’s approval to feel relaxed and social without drinking alcohol.
• The drugs he takes include medicines for epilepsy, nerve pain, and beta blockers for calming anxiety symptoms.
• Experts warn that taking these drugs in high amounts or for a long time without medical help can be harmful and even life-threatening.
• Young adults with social anxiety are turning to these substances as an alternative to alcohol, a trend seen especially among Generation Z.
• About 28% of people in their early 20s in England report high anxiety, higher than previous generations at the same age.
• Social media promotes these drugs as safer and without hangovers, often showing users mixing different medications, a practice called "stacking."
• Many young people now drink less alcohol, leading to the nickname "sober generation" for Gen Z.
• The exact number of young people using these drugs is unknown because many obtain them without prescriptions.