The Social Web of Influence: Understanding the Contexts Driving Hashish Use Among Youth

Abstract

Hashish remains the most widely used drug globally, with an estimated 228 million users, influenced by various social contexts. The socio-cultural environment in which individuals live plays a significant role in shaping hashish’s use behavior. This study examines the influence of social environment on hashish use behavior, focusing on how different social contexts contribute to the patterns of hashish use among youth. Under the interpretive research paradigm, the study adopted a qualitative research approach. A snowball sampling technique was used to select participants for the study. Eleven in-depth interviews were conducted with young male aged 18–25 in District Bajaur of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The collected data was analyzed through a thematic data analysis technique using MAXQDA. The findings reveal that community environment, availability, social events, and glorified local discourses about Hashish create a social web that influences the youth towards Hashish.