Drug
The word 'drug' is defined by the World Health Organization as: "any substance or product that affects the way people feel, think, see, taste, smell, hear, or behave". The focus of this learning package is young people and substance use. The reason for this is that young people have specific needs and that simply imposing adult models of thinking onto their behaviours, issues and problems has been ineffective. As such, one needs to concentrate specifically on young people as a separate group requiring special attention.
Young people and substance use
The relationship between young people and substance use can be described as a complex one. The patterns and contexts of use change rapidly. At any given time in any given area, young people will be using a myriad of substances, with the most frequently used ones being those most easily accessible.
The best predictor of adolescent substance use is being young. Adolescence is a time of experimentation and risk taking, where one often tries different things. Substances are just one of those things. But be comforted by the fact that most young people who begin use do not continue that use or they do not develop any significant problems. Further, we know that use of one substance does not necessarily mean use of others and that most substance use is functional, that is, it happens for a reason (a point we shall return to later). However, these facts do little to allay the fears and concerns of those involved with the adolescent, for example, family, friends, and teachers.
Reasons for use
Often people see or fear dysfunctional outcomes that occur for some and forget, or do not see, the functional nature of substance use by most young people. That is, young people use substances for many reasons and most do not develop adverse consequences. Like adults, young people do not use substances to feel bad or because they are illegal! The reasons that young people use substances are many and varied and may include, but are not limited to:
- For excitement
- To stay awake / alert
- To get to sleep / dream
- To reduce pain (physical and emotional)
- To hallucinate
- To socialise
- To increase sexual experiences
- To forget
- For FUN
Just think, if we were to interview a number of young people outside a nightclub and ask them why they were using substances such as ecstasy or alcohol, what do you think their responses might be?
The responses at the club would most likely be about using substances to increase the pleasure of the night, to make the music sound better, or to make it easier to socialise. The responses would not generally be that they are using because they were molested or raped, or abused as children. But often these are the reasons proposed for adolescents' substance use. We do not usually make these suppositions about adult substance use.
Why do you think this might be?
Could it be because we do not believe that young people are able to make responsible decisions? That we do not understand that they can and often do enjoy themselves by using their substances of choice in a non-problematic way?
Activity
What might be some of the benefits the following young people get from their use of substances?
A 17-year-old male sex worker living in the city using heroin (Mark)
A 16-year-old Aboriginal woman in a rural community inhaling petrol (Kim)
A 15-year-old female in the northern suburbs of Sydney using ecstasy (Sandy)
A 17-year-old gay male who is 'coming out' using large amounts of alcohol (Santos)
A 16-year-old male using speed and committing crime (Jason)
A 15-year-old female using cannabis who is depressed and suicidal (Melissa)
A 17-year-old Vietnamese male who is smoking heroin (Minh)
Problematic use
At the outset, we again need to acknowledge that most use of substances by young people will also have association with certain benefits, but that there may be negative undesired consequences.
Adverse Consequences
Besides the benefits that the young people might get from their substance use, there can be numerous detrimental consequences including health and social consequences.
Health Consequences
What might be some of the health consequences faced by these young people?
A 17-year-old male sex worker living in the city using heroin (Mark)
A 16-year-old Aboriginal woman in a rural community inhaling petrol (Kim)
A 15-year-old female in the northern suburbs of Sydney using ecstasy (Sandy)
A 17-year-old gay male who is 'coming out' using large amounts of alcohol (Santos)
A 16-year-old male using speed and committing crime (Jason)
A 15-year-old female using cannabis who is depressed and suicidal (Melissa)
A 17-year-old Vietnamese male who is smoking heroin (Minh)
Social Consequences
What might be some of the social consequences faced by the different young people?
A 17-year-old male sex worker living in the city using heroin (Mark)
A 16-year-old Aboriginal woman in a rural community inhaling petrol (Kim)
A 15-year-old female in the northern suburbs of Sydney using ecstasy (Sandy)
A 17-year-old gay male who is 'coming out' using large amounts of alcohol (Santos)
A 16-year-old male using speed and committing crime (Jason)
A 15-year-old female using cannabis who is depressed and suicidal (Melissa)
A 17-year-old Vietnamese male who is smoking heroin (Minh)
Why do you think many young people do not use or do not continue to use substances?
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Working with Young People with Alcohol or Other Drug Issues: A self-paced learning package Published: 2006 Funded by NSW Drug & Alcohol Workforce Development Council. Written & compiled by Kristy Delaney, YAPA, and Matt Stubbs & John Howard, Ted Noffs Institute. Additional material by Nick Manning, YAPA, & by Shopfront Youth Legal Centre. Opinions are the author's.
Be careful! YAPA and the authors took reasonable care to ensure that this information was correct at the time of publishing. However health information, and government regulations, laws and standards are complex and changing. The authors may not have health, safety, or legal qualifications, and information provided is general - it is not specific health, legal or professional advice. Do not rely on it - check with other publications and authorities and if necessary get qualified, medical, legal or professional advice for your situation.
