Substance abuse

Drugs, both legal and illegal, are a part of our social life and culture. This is especially true for younger people. Drugs can be potentially harmful to our physical and mental health. There are a number of differences between men’s and women's use of drugs.

Smoking

Until recently, smoking has not necessarily been seen as a women's health issue, but rather a concern of public health. The effects of smoking appear in almost every major system and organ in the body. Heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and cancer are directly linked to smoking. Women's risk of developing lung cancer is twice that of men who smoke the same number of cigarettes. Women also face additional risks linked to contraception, birth, menstruation, menopause, osteoporosis, and cervical cancer. It is estimated that in 1998, over 6,000 female deaths were attributable to smoking. This is approximately 10% of all deaths.

So, who smokes?

While overall rates of smoking have dropped over the last 20 years in many developed countries, the greatest reductions have been in rates of male smokers. Results from the Australian Burden of Disease and Injury Study reveal that between 1981 and 1996, the mortality burden for lung cancer per capita decreased 15% for men but increased by 62% for women. This has resulted in a closer similarity between men’s and women's smoking habits. However, projected estimates suggest that more women than men will smoke in the future. A 2001 household survey of almost 27,000 people aged 14 and over revealed that:

• In the 14-19 age bracket, more women than men were daily smokers (16.2% and 14.1%, respectively).
• Approximately 128, 800 women aged 14-19 and 330, 900 women aged 20-29 were regular smokers in 2001.
• In the 14-19 age bracket, women on average smoked 72 cigarettes a week.

Drinking

Like cigarettes, alcohol is a widely used legal drug. It is accepted as part of our culture. Alcohol is a mood altering drug which, when consumed in large quantities, can act as a depressant. It affects judgment, balance, and coordination. Young people are at risk of alcohol related injuries including: road trauma, violence, sexual coercion, falls, accidental death (i.e. drowning), and suicide. Prolonged alcohol abuse affects major body systems and organs, including the liver and the brain. Like smoking, adolescent drinking is largely a social activity and peak consumption occurs on weekends.

So, who drinks?

The 2001 National Drug Strategy's Household survey found that:

• Females aged 14-19 were more likely than males to consume alcohol at high risk levels (14.6% compared to 8.8%).
• More than 1 in 5 females aged 14-19 years (21.2%) put themselves at risk of alcohol related harm in the short term on at least a monthly basis during the last 12 months. More than one in ten (11.8%) females aged 14-19 had put themselves at risk on at least a weekly basis during the last 12 months.

Illegal drugs

Illegal drugs are volatile substances used illegally and pharmaceuticals used for non-medical purposes. Illegal drugs include:

• Cannabis (marijuana, hashish)
• Amphetamines (speed)
• Ecstasy
• Cocaine
• Hallucinogenic drugs (LSD, mushrooms)
• Opiates (heroin)
• Inhalants (substances like glue, petrol, aerosol sprays, paint)
• Steroids 

The consequences of illegal drug use include physical health outcomes such as kidney, liver, and heart damage. They can also cause  loss of memory or concentration, depression, the transmission of viruses through sharing needles, and psychological or physical addiction. Some illegal drugs can lead to increased aggression or hostility. There are also associated legal risks of engaging in illegal or dangerous activity.

So, who uses illegal drugs?

Accurate information about the use of illegal drugs is difficult to obtain due to people's reluctance to admit to their use. The 2001 National Drug Strategy's Household survey found:

• In general females are less likely than males to use illegal drugs.
• For both sexes, the use of illegal drugs is higher in younger age groups, particularly the 20-29 year old category.
• The proportion of female teenagers (14-19) that had ever used illegal drugs was 37.9%. 
• The proportion of people who had recently used marijuana/cannabis decreased significantly from 1998 (e.g. in females aged 14-19, use decreased from 34.2% in 1998 to 22.6% in 2001).
• Females aged 14-19 were more likely to have used heroin than males (1.1% compared to 0.7%).
• Females aged 14-19 were more likely to be recent users of amphetamines than males that age (6.8% compared to 5.7%).