Young adults in Amsterdam increasingly turn to designer drugs and gambling
Young adults in Amsterdam are increasingly using designer drugs such as 3-MMC (3-Methylmethcathinone) and magic mushroom drops, according to the annual drugs monitor by Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA) for Jellinek Preventie.
According to Het Parool, the survey interviewed over 1,000 café visitors, mostly in their twenties. Ecstasy (xtc) and cocaine remain the most popular illegal substances, used by 53 percent and 48 percent of respondents, respectively. Ketamine was reported by 27 percent.
Use of 3-MMC, including variants like 2-MMC, has jumped from 2 percent six years ago to 32 percent last year. Magic mushroom drops were used by 32 percent, overtaking classic mushrooms and truffles at 15 percent. Laughing gas (nitrous oxide) has sharply declined, from 31 percent in 2018 to 9 percent in 2024.
Alcohol remains widely consumed, with 98 percent drinking in the past four weeks. Daily drinking is, however, rare (1 percent), but averages eight drinks on free days. Heavy drinking — at least four (women) or six (men) drinks per day weekly — occurs in 69 percent, while excessive weekly drinking exceeds 14 (women) or 21 (men) drinks in 37 percent.
Nicotine use is stable, with 54 percent smoking tobacco. Vaping has increased fivefold since 2018, used by 21 percent.
“Gen Z is a very outgoing group,” Ton Nabben, drug researcher at HvA, told Het Parool. “They don’t just go to cafés. There is a big overlap with clubs, festivals, and house parties. In terms of substance use, they score quite high.” Gambling has also surged. In 2018, only 1 percent of respondents reported gambling; by 2024, 24 percent had gambled online or offline. Mettivier Meijer attributed this to the 2021 legalization of online gambling.
