«Η μάστιγα των ναρκωτικών»: Καταναλωτικές τάσεις και κοινωνικοί φόβοι στην Ελλάδα της Μεταπολίτευσης

Abstract

The issue of drug use emerged as a central concern in Greek society, politics, public discourse, the media, and artistic production during the Metapolitefsi period—the era following the fall of the Greek military dictatorship (1967–1974). This phenomenon largely mirrored developments in other Western societies during the same period. This article first contextualizes these international trends and provides a brief historical overview of drug use in Greece since the early twentieth century. It then examines how the landscape of drug use evolved in the post-dictatorship years, the social anxieties associated with it, and the shifting perceptions, attitudes, and policies regarding "drug addiction" following the restoration of democracy. Finally, the article explores whether the Metapolitefsi era represents a distinct period in the history of psychoactive substance use in Greece—specifically, the extent to which political periodization aligns with social history.