Risk control and rational recreation: A qualitative analysis of synthetic drug use among young urbanites in China

Highlights • The participants in this study clearly did not support the government's attempts to control the use of synthetic drugs. • They viewed synthetic drug use as reasonable which helped them balance physical pleasure and the demands of rational life. • There is a close relationship between synthetic drug use and developments within contemporary Chinese society and culture. • Drug policy should acknowledge the experiences of users and consider the socio-cultural contexts of youth drug-taking. • The orientation of Chinese drug law and regulations should shift from punishment to harm reduction.