Why do people use alcohol and

other drugs?
People use alcohol and other drugs (AOD) for a variety of reasons: to relax, to function, for
enjoyment, to be part of a group, out of curiosity or to avoid physical and/or psychological
pain.
Many may also use AOD to cope with problems, relieve stress or overcome boredom while
others may experiment out of a sense of curiosity, excitement or rebellion.
AOD use is influenced by a number of factors but most people use them to feel better or
different. They use AOD for the benefits (perceived and/or experienced), not for the potential
harm. This applies to both legal and illegal substances.
Some drugs are prescribed by medical practitioners or sold over-the-counter to treat medical
conditions.
The vast majority of people who drink alcohol and/or use legal or illegal drugs do not become
dependent on any of the substances.

What drugs are being used in Australia?

The majority of people in Australia drink alcohol (78.3%) with 12% of the population using
illicit drugs. Cannabis is the most commonly-used illicit drug (10.2%). A much smaller
proportion (2%) use illegal drugs, such as crystal methamphetamine (ice), cocaine and
ecstasy, and even smaller misuse inhalants (0.8%).

Types of AOD use

The list below details some of the different categories of AOD use. People can move between
the categories, and one stage will not inevitably lead to another. The majority of people who
use AOD do not become dependent or develop serious problems as a result of using them.
Experimental use: a person tries a substance once or twice out of curiosity.
Recreational use: a person chooses to use AOD for enjoyment, particularly to enhance a
mood or social occasion. The majority of people use substances for this reason and never
develop problems as a result.
Situational use: AOD is used to cope with the demands of particular situations such as
responding to peer group pressure, overcoming shyness in a social situation or coping with
some form of stress.
Intensive use or 'bingeing': a person intentionally consumes a heavy amount of AOD over a
short period of time, which may be hours, days or weeks.
Dependent use: a person becomes dependent on AOD after prolonged or heavy use over
time. They feel the need to take the substance consistently in order to feel normal and/or to
avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
Therapeutic use: a person takes a drug, such as a pharmaceutical, for medicinal purposes.

The vast majority of people who drink alcohol and/or use legal or
illegal drugs do not become dependent on any of the substances.

Pag

Why do people choose certain drugs?

People choose AOD for the specific feelings they get as a result of using them. For example,
people may use codeine to relieve pain, drink alcohol to relax and relieve stress, take
amphetamines to increase energy or use hallucinogens to alter their perception.
Using one drug does not necessarily lead people to trying other drugs with research dismissing
concerns about so-called gateway drugs. There is no evidence suggesting people who use
cannabis will graduate over time to other drugs such as heroin or amphetamines.
However, a persons AOD use may be influenced by the availability, price and purity of specific
drugs. It is worth noting that often it is the combination of such factors that determine which
drug a person uses. For example, tougher law enforcement policies combined with lower profit
margins made Australia a less attractive option for heroin traffickers, which led to the heroin
drought in the early 2000s. Similarly, if supplies of a preferred drug fall (which in turn can
significantly increase the price) then people may switch to an alternative drug to satisfy their
needs.
Effects
The feelings people experience when taking a certain drug play a major role in their decision to
use it. Some substances might be used for a specific occasion. For example, people often use
ecstasy and amphetamines to increase their energy during a dance party.
Another person may use performance and image enhancing drugs, such as steroids, or
cognitive enhancers to improve their performance at work, study or sporting competitions.
While others may turn to alcohol and tobacco to relax after work or to combat stress.
Availability
Availability can be a major factor determining whether people use a specific drug. The greater
the level of supply of a drug in a society, the more likely they are to be used and the more
likely people are to experience problems with it. For example, alcohol is the most commonlyused drug given its widespread availability. Whereas drugs such as heroin and amphetamines
are less likely to be used because they are illegal drugs which make them more difficult to
obtain.
Even within the illicit drug market, availability plays a major role. Supplies of heroin and
ecstasy have fluctuated in the past two decades for a number of reasons, including stronger
law enforcement restricting supplies of the drugs.
Price
Price is also a major influence, which is closely linked with availability. Drugs that are available
in high quantities tend to be cheaper to buy, and lower drug prices may result in higher levels
of drug consumption and drug-related harm.
The cheaper the price the more likely the drug will appeal to more people. For example, an
oversupply of heroin in the 1990s saw prices drop to a historic low, resulting in it becoming the
most-commonly injected drug. Conversely, a dramatic heroin shortage in 2000 saw the price
skyrocket from $360 to $1200 per gram in Australia.
It is also worth noting that the price of one drug can affect the demand for another. If the
price rises too high, in some cases people who use a particular drug may seek a cheaper
alternative if they can no longer afford their preferred choice.

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Purity
The purity of a drug refers to the strength or amount of the active ingredient. While a persons
individual perception of purity can be influenced by their tolerance levels and frequency of use,
the actual purity of a drug can be impacted by external market forces that affect its
availability.
For example, the popularity of ecstasy fell in 2010 when international restrictions on the
chemicals needed to make the drug saw its purity levels drop significantly. Although ecstasy
demand is on the rise again, many people had already switched to using the synthetic
compounds, which had been introduced as a substitute when ecstasys availability and purity
levels had fallen.
Initial reports suggest the shift around 2013 to the more potent form of crystal
methamphetamine (ice) from the more traditional powder methamphetamine form (speed)
may be linked to the higher purity of crystal methamphetamine, which means the effects of
the drug are much stronger.
Multiple (poly) drug use
Some people combine different kinds of AOD to increase the intensity of the experience. They
may also combine substances such as alcohol with prescription drugs without thinking about
the side effects. They may not be aware of the harms that may be caused when the different
drugs interact with each other.
People may also use some drugs to counteract the effects of another drug. For example,
people may smoke cannabis to come down from the stimulating effects of amphetamines.
However, using one drug after another means the person may suffer the side effects from both
drugs.

Further Information
The Druginfo website has information on:
-

Help & support services

Drug facts

Statistics

References for this fact sheet

Go to druginfo.adf.org.au

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