Substance Abuse

Drugs, both legal and illegal, are a part of our social life and culture, especially for younger people. Drugs can be potentially harmful to our physical and mental health. There are a number of differences between men 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 for smoking the same number of cigarette. Women also face additional risks linked to contraception, birth, menstruation, menopause, osteoporosis and cervical cancer. It is estimated that in 1998 over 6000 female deaths were attributable to smoking, approximately 10% of all deaths (1).

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 smoking. Results from the Australian Burden of Disease and Injury Study reveal that in 2003, tobacco accounted for 5.8% of the total burden of disease and injury in women, compared to 9.6% in men (2). This reflects the higher prevalence of smoking by men 20 to 30 years ago. Projected estimates suggest that in future more women than men will smoke.

The 2005 Australian Students Alcohol and Drug Survey revealed that:

• In Queensland students aged 12-17 years of age, more females than males reported smoking in the last week (12% compared to 11%).
• However, 63% of Queensland females students aged 12-17 reported they had never smoked.
• In all age groups there was a decline in Queensland female students reported smoking in the last week or month compared to the last survey carried out in 2002 (3).

Drinking

Like cigarettes, alcohol is a widely used legal drug, accepted as part of our culture. Alcohol is a mood altering drug which, when consumed in large quantities, can act as a depressant, and affects judgment, balance and co-ordination. Young people are at risk of alcohol related injuries, including road trauma, violence, sexual coercion, falls, accidental death (ie. drowning), and suicide (4). 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 2004 National Drug Strategy's Household survey found that :

• Females aged 14-19 were more likely than males to consume alcohol at risky or high risk levels for long term health (12.3% compared to 7.7%).
• More than 1 in 6 females aged 14-19 years (18.8%) put themselves at risk of alcohol related harm in the short term on at least a monthly basis during the last 12 months. Approximately one in ten (10.5%) females aged 14-19 had put themselves at risk on at least a weekly basis during the last 12 months (5).

A report on alcohol consumption patterns among Australian secondary school students in 2005 found:

• Premixed spirits were the most popular drink type with females aged 12-17 years of age (47% compared to 30% for spirits, 6% for beer, 5% for wine and 1% for alcoholic soda). The popularity of premixed spirits has increased substantially amongst females, with only 23% reporting that they usually drank premixed spirits in 1999.
• Parents were the most common source of alcohol among students who drank in the last week, with 37% of males and 38% of females indicating their parents gave them their last drink
• Nearly 60% of 12-17 year olds females reported that they consumed their last d rink under adult supervision. These results imply an acceptance by parents of drinking by their adolescent children (6).

Illicit drugs

Illicit drugs are illegal drugs, volatile substances used illicitly and pharmaceuticals used for non-medical purposes (7). Illicit drugs include:

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

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

So, who uses illicit drugs?

Accurate information about the use of illicit drugs is difficult to obtain due to people's reluctance to admit to their use. The 2004 National Drug Strategy's Household survey found :

• In general females are less likely than males to use illicit drugs.
• For both sexes, the use of illegal drugs is highest in the in 20-29 and 30-39 year old age groups.
• The proportion of female teenagers (14-19) that had ever used illicit drugs was 30.4%.
• The proportion of females who had recently used marijuana/cannabis decreased significantly from 1998 (34.2% to 26.2% in 2004)
• Females aged 14-19 were more likely to have ever used ecstasy (6.8% compared to 5.7%)
• Marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug (8).
  
  

References

For further information sources on this topic see our Internet resources for assignments page

This student factsheet is one of a series produced by Women's Health Queensland Wide. They have been developed in response to students' most frequently asked questions and reflect a range of topics examined by high school and tertiary students. It has been reviewed by our Editorial Committee. This factsheet is designed for student assignment purposes and, therefore, may not be an appropriate source of information for personal use.

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Last Modified: November 7, 2007