The facts about young people and drugs

Why do young people use drugs?

How many young people use alcohol and other drugs?

What are the risks?

Common myths about alcohol and other drugs

Further information

Why do young people use drugs?

People use drugs for many different reasons. Typically adolescence is a time of experimentation. Young people may take drugs as they struggle to establish their independence in a society where alcohol and other drugs are associated with being an adult.

Other reasons that young people may use alcohol and other drugs include:

curiosity
social influences (peer pressure)
enjoying the feeling – for example, the effects of ecstasy include increased energy and confidence
risk taking and rebellion can be exciting, especially when it involves parental disapproval and illegal substances
escapism – alcohol and other drugs may be used as a means of avoiding problems associated with family life, school or work frustrations, friendship and relationship difficulties, low self esteem and/or depression. These problems should be addressed as early as possible to prevent any related drug use from escalating.

Importantly, the reasons that young people don't use drugs include that they're just not interested, and that they're addictive and/or bad for your health.

How many young people use alcohol and other drugs?

Although many young people will experiment with alcohol and other drugs (legal or illegal) at some stage, most will not go on to experience problems.

The findings of a major survey of households across Australia suggest that:

59.3% of 12–17 year olds have never had one full serve of alcohol.
95.5% of 12–17 year olds have never smoked a cigarette.
81.3% of 14–17 year olds have never used an illegal drug.
The most commonly used illegal drug is cannabis, with 11% of young people aged between 12 and 17 years having used it at least once in their lifetime.
The average age for first time use of tobacco is 16 years; alcohol 17 years; and cannabis 18.5 years.

A survey of Australian secondary school students aged 12–17 years, found that:

86% of 14 year old students had tried alcohol.
Smoking cigarettes became more common as students progressed through secondary school.
Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit substance among secondary school students, with 18% of all secondary school students aged between 12 and 17 years reporting the use of cannabis at some time in their life.
5% of students reported having used amphetamines.
5% of students reported having used hallucinogens during their lifetime.
4% of students reported having used ecstasy. Recent use of ecstasy was not common among any age group.
3% of students reported having used steroids without a doctor’s prescription.
3% of students reported having used cocaine.
2% of students reported that they had used opiates such as heroin or morphine without a doctor's prescription

It is hard to know what statistics about alcohol and other drug use mean for you and your child. While most young people do not use drugs, a small but significant percentage do. If you are a parent of a child who has used them, you are not alone.

What are the risks?

Although most young people who experiment with alcohol and other drugs don't experience major issues, drug use can cause many and varied problems. Using legal or illegal drugs may not only affect the young people themselves, but also friends, family and others around them.

The short term risks of alcohol and other drug use include risk of injury, loss of possessions, relationship problems, time away from school or work, and perhaps even trouble with the law. The longer term risks include the risk of developmental problems, dependence (or addiction), and chronic health problems.

The risks associated with drinking can be far greater for young people than for adults, because they are still developing, both physically and emotionally. This means that drinking is more likely to cause physical, mental health and social problems for them. Furthermore, as our brains are still developing until our mid-20s, heavy drinking before this age is likely to cause problems with brain development, and can lead to difficulties with memory and learning.

Read about the long and short-term effects of alcohol.

Mental health issues associated with drug use can range from problems that affect a person's self-esteem, confidence and happiness through to major psychoses. There is evidence that regular use of some drugs (such as cannabis), especially if regular, heavy and commencing at a young age, increases the likelihood of mental health problems occurring in people who have a personal or family history of mental illness.

Drug effects

Find more information about the effects/risks of alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, heroin, inhalants, ecstasy and other drugs.

Common myths about alcohol and other drugs

Myth	Reality
Most young people use illegal drugs.	The opposite is true. Most young people have never even tried illegal drugs, let alone use them on a regular basis.
You can become addicted to some drugs after taking them once.	No drug is instantly addictive. However, over time people can become dependent on (addicted to) to drugs.
All drug use by young people will lead to problems later as an adult.	While there are very real risks associated with drug use, most young people who experiment with drugs will not go on to develop major problems in adulthood.
Drinking alcohol is a rite of passage and is safer than taking other drugs.	Although widely perceived as safe and acceptable, drinking alcohol is a risky activity that leads to many more deaths and hospital admissions than illegal drugs.
You can sober up after drinking alcohol by exercising, taking a cold shower, eating mints, drinking coffee or milk, or vomiting.	A person will only sober up when the alcohol has been naturally processed and removed from the body. It takes about one hour to remove just under one standard drink from the body. There are no tricks that will speed up the process.
Prescription drugs are safe.	All drugs, even prescribed and over-the-counter medicines, have side effects that can affect a person’s health if they are not used correctly. It is important to always follow the instructions of your doctor or pharmacist.
Cannabis is much stronger today than it was in the 1970s.	Although the cannabis that is used today may be slightly more potent than what was used 30 years ago, there is no evidence to suggest that cannabis potency has increased markedly, as has been suggested by some commentators.
Inhalant use is only a problem in Aboriginal communities.	This perception is possibly due to media attention given to petrol sniffing in isolated Aboriginal communities. In reality, inhalants are used by a wide range of people.
Ecstasy will kill you.	Deaths from ecstasy are relatively rare; however, there are no checks on the ingredients and no "safe" levels of consumption.
LSD can come as a temporary tattoo or transfer that is placed on the skin.	This is not true. People may be confused because the cartoon characters and images found on blotting paper look like transfers. Absorbing LSD through the skin has very little effect on a person.
Marijuana is healthier than cigarettes because it’s natural.	Marijuana smoke contains tars and carcinogens just like tobacco smoke.

For more myth busters, visit the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) website to download their "Fact or myth?" fact sheet.