Understanding reasons for drug use amongst young people: a functional perspective

This study uses a functional perspective to examine the reasons young peopl e cite for using psychoactive substances. The study sample comprised 364 yo ung poly-drug users recruited using snowball-sampling methods. Data on life time and recent frequency and intensity of use for alcohol, cannabis, amphe tamines, ecstasy, LSD and cocaine are presented. A majority of the particip ants had used at least one of these six drugs to fulfil 11 of 18 measured s ubstance use functions. The most popular functions for use were using to: r elax (96.7%), become intoxicated (96.4%), keep awake at night while sociali zing (95.9%), enhance an activity (88.5%) and alleviate depressed mood (86. 8%). Substance use functions were found to differ by age and gender. Recogn ition of the functions fulfilled by substance use should help health educat ors and prevention strategists to make health messages about drugs more rel evant and appropriate to general and specific audiences. Targeting substanc es that are perceived to fulfil similar functions and addressing issues con cerning the substitution of one substance for another may also strengthen e ducation and prevention efforts.