Stigmatization and Normalization of Prohibited Psychoactive Substances Consumption in the Discourse of Moscow Youth

In this paper, I seek to understand the mechanisms of identity construction among youth consumers of psychoactive substances. For this purpose, I have conducted 15 in-depth interviews with young people aged 18 to 23 who have used or are currently using psychoactive substances on a regular basis. In particular, I want to explore their experience of substance abuse and their ways to coexist with various social norms. These interviews will help me to understand how they justified their lifestyle for themselves and what motivates them to start and continue to use psychoactive substances. I want to study the ef-fect that psychoactive substance consumption have on young consumers in the various sociocultural contexts in which they participate. In other words, I am go-ing to explore how their identity is constructed in various social and cultural set-tings. How both negative and positive stereotypes about drug consumption affect their understanding of self and themselves in society.