Drug use and living conditions of unaccompanied minors

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, often from North Africa, sleeping in squatted flats or other makeshift shelters and involved in petty crime for reasons of economic survival. 

Their drug uses are mainly concentrated on a few medicines (mainly benzodiazepines, pregabalin and tramadol) and can only be understood in the context of the interplay between life in their country of origin, migration, and their situation of extreme poverty in France. Under these conditions, access to care and social support for these drug users is a central issue.