Abstract

Research shows that cannabis is understood differently across cannabis cultures. In Sweden, young cannabis users are seen as vulnerable, problem-burdened and increasingly embracing drug-liberal attitudes. Despite low prevalence rates, youth cannabis use is considered a high-profile problem that warrants prohibition. Previous studies show that staff in Swedish addiction treatment legitimize resolute interventions by making up young users as irrational. The treated young people claimed instead that starting to use cannabis and quitting were informed decisions. In this article, we revisit interviews with 18 young clients in Swedish addiction treatment, and examine the data with a focus on comparisons (e.g. A is unlike B). We perceive comparison as a tool in the formation of narrative identity, rather than a logical outcome of accounts. We ask what is compared with what in young people’s accounts of cannabis use, and what these comparisons reveal about their thoughts on well-being, the self and the setting. The interviewees used comparisons that drew on cultural, institutional and organizational narratives when they discussed cannabis. Taken together, their accounts instantiated ideas about powerful drug effects, the primacy of the neoliberal subject and the potential of cannabis addiction. We discuss whether these accounts mirror rather than challenge drug prohibition.

摘要

研究表明，不同大麻文化对大麻的理解不同。在瑞典，年轻的大麻使用者被视为易受伤害、问题重重并且越来越接受毒品自由主义的态度。尽管流行率很低，但青少年吸食大麻被认为是一个值得禁止的引人注目的问题。先前的研究表明，瑞典成瘾治疗的工作人员通过将年轻的使用者编造为非理性，从而使坚决干预合法化。相反，接受治疗的年轻人声称开始使用大麻和戒烟是明智的决定。在本文中，我们重新采访了 18 位瑞典成瘾治疗的年轻客户，并通过比较（例如 A 不同于 B）检查数据。我们将比较视为形成叙事身份的工具，而不是叙述的逻辑结果。我们询问年轻人对大麻使用的描述与什么进行比较，以及这些比较揭示了他们对幸福、自我和环境的看法。受访者在讨论大麻时使用了基于文化、制度和组织叙述的比较。总而言之，他们的叙述实例化了关于强大药物作用、新自由主义主体的首要地位和大麻成瘾潜力的想法。我们讨论这些说法是否反映而不是挑战禁毒。他们的叙述实例化了关于强大药物作用、新自由主义主体的首要地位和大麻成瘾潜力的想法。我们讨论这些说法是否反映而不是挑战禁毒。他们的叙述实例化了关于强大药物作用、新自由主义主体的首要地位和大麻成瘾潜力的想法。我们讨论这些说法是否反映而不是挑战禁毒。