The article presents findings on young people's drug use and their views on the use of cannabis, amphetamines, and heroin; views on the health risks of various drugs; and the relationship between reported drug use and expressed views. It discusses findings in relation to the extent to which illegal drug use can be considered to be "normalized" as part of young people's lives towards the end of their compulsory schooling. While the findings provide some evidence for both sides of the "normalization debate," the article finds only weak evidence that normalization, even of cannabis use, is true for young people of that age (15-16 years old). However, if drug use is increasing and the age of onset of such use decreasing, then for young people as they get older and for future cohorts at the end of their compulsory schooling, normalization of certain forms of drug use may occur. The article suggests that the extent to which drug use can be considered to be normalized among young people depends on the spin that is put on certain aspects of the argument, e.g., the definition of "young people." Tables, figures, note, references