Identity, discourse, and self-regulation : a study of “club drug” use among Maltese youths

Abstract

The youthful recreational use of Ecstasy, cocaine, and other illicit substances that occur as ‘club drugs’ is widespread in Western societies. Although this type of drug consumption is a global phenomenon that is often addressed and analysed through positivist epidemiological models, it is localised and attributed with complex, culturally-specific meanings and functions by club drug users themselves. In this thesis I analyse these meanings and functions among a group of upper-middle class club drug users in Malta. I argue that eminently social processes such as secrecy, discretion, and gossip fundamentally regulate, inform and index this type of drug use among these youths. In turn, these engender patterns of sociality, complicity, and specific collective behavioural strategies. Further, I posit that drug consumption does not merely reflect an individual drive for ‘pleasure’ and ‘empathy’, or even pathological conditions of ‘addiction’ among these youths. Rather, carefully moderated and modulated club drug consumption allows them to construct their identity as more ‘virtuous’ consumers vis-à-vis others who consume these drugs immoderately and indiscriminately. Referring to the Maltese structural dichotomy of tajjeb (good/well/benevolent) versus ħażin (bad/rotten/evil), I show how these youths categorise drug users according to whether they are willing and able to engage in ‘composed’ drug consumption or otherwise. Furthermore, for them local social class tensions and distinctions are also indexed through drug consumption, as those who engage in bacchanalian club drug-taking are disparaged and categorised as belonging to a lower social class (ħamalli).