General · 18 August 2026

Young people swap alcohol for prescription drugs to ease social anxiety

Experts warn young adults are increasingly using illegally obtained prescription drugs like pregabalin and propranolol instead of alcohol to manage social anxiety. The trend, often promoted on social media, carries risks of dependency and serious health issues if taken without medical guidance. Deaths involving pregabalin in England and Wales more than quadrupled between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.

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