What is a drug?

A drug is any substance (with the exception of food and water) which, when taken into the body, alters the body’s function either physically and/or psychologically. Drugs may be legal (e.g. alcohol, caffeine and tobacco) or illegal (e.g. cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin).

What is a psychoactive drug?

Psychoactive drugs affect the central nervous system and alter a person’s mood, thinking and behaviour.

There are four classifications of psychoactive drugs:

Stimulants - These types of drugs increase the activity in the central nervous system and arouse the body. For example, meth, cocaine and tobacco.

Depressants - These drugs slow down the central nervous system including heart rate and breathing. For example, heroin and alcohol.

Hallucinogens - These drugs affect the central nervous system by causing perceptual distortions and sometimes, hallucinations. For example, LSD (trips) and mushrooms.

Other - These drugs may have more than one effect. For example, cannabis can have both a depressant and hallucinogenic effect.

Many parents and family search for reasons as to why their adolescent, adult child or family member uses drugs. Parents, in particular, often refer to past issues that may have contributed to use and load themselves with guilt about what could have been done better to prevent drug use.

The fact is there are many reasons why people might use alcohol and drugs, including:

• Curiosity
• Excitement
• To fit in with a group
• Boredom
• To be sociable
• Escape from reality
• Enjoyment
• Experimentation
• Independence
• Avoiding painful situations

You will often hear people describe drug use in different ways. These are some terms you may hear.

Experimental

When a person tries a drug out of curiosity once or twice.

Recreational

When a person uses a drug for enjoyment or to change their mood at a social occasion like a party.

Situational

When a person uses a drug to cope with a situation, for example, the use of amphetamines in order to maintain alertness for long distance drives.

Intensive

This type of use is commonly known as 'bingeing' and occurs when a person consumes large amounts of drugs over a short period of time, for example, binge drinking over a weekend or using amphetamines over 3 – 4 days. It can also refer to frequent use of large doses of drugs.

Intensive use can lead to tolerance., meaning the person who uses drugs needs more of that drug to get the same effect as when they were using a smaller amount.

Dependent

After regular use, a person may become physically or psychologically dependent on a drug in order to feel normal. Dependence occurs when a person's body adapts to the presence of the drug and when the drug becomes more central to the person's thoughts, actions and lifestyle.

Evidence shows, drug use does not necessarily occur in this order and any form of drug use can be potentially harmful. For example, one experimental encounter with drugs (including alcohol) may cause an accidental overdose, which may cause serious harm or even death.

Many parents and families often experience severe stress or concern over drug use by their children. This is understandable but it is important to remember that most young people do not develop problems as a result of experimental use. Having said that, a small percentage of young people may develop a high tolerance to alcohol and other drugs and some may continue to use them and develop a dependency.

The effects of meth use varies from person to person depending on a variety of factors see the Health Effects and Risks section but the main effects that people often describe as ‘positive’ are:

• Increased energy and alertness
• Increased confidence
• Increased talkativeness
• Ability to stay awake for long periods
• Reduced appetite

While these effects can be seen as positive by the person using meth, they can also be accompanied by feelings of irritability, anxiety and paranoia. These more negative effects can be unpleasant for the person using meth and those around them. 

Why can’t they just stop using?

Problem drug use can mean different things to different people. What you perceive as a problem may be different to what others, or the user sees as a problem, and sometimes the person using may not even be aware that there is a problem and therefore does not feel the need to change.

People who use drugs regularly can also become dependent on the drug quite quickly. This means that the drug becomes central to a person’s life and they feel they cannot function properly without it. If a person is dependent on drugs, and then they suddenly stop or cut down their use, they will likely experience withdrawal symptoms. This can make it hard for the person to just stop using.