Introduction to alcohol and drug issues

For centuries people have been using alcohol and other drugs in different ways - to alter their mood, to feel good, to take away pain, to assist with a medical condition, to be accepted, to give them confidence or to socialise.

Many people choose not to drink or use at all, others may drink socially while others may use excessively. Social use is described as when the drinking or drug use is secondary to another activity. In most societies, this is seen as acceptable behaviour and there appears to be nothing wrong with it in moderation.

Alcohol and drug use can be seen as a relationship between the person, their environment and the drug(s) which serves a particular function in their lives.

Different styles of use generate different consequences for the user and for those around him /her.

However, for some people, drug use can become excessive and problematic and develops into a priority activity, generating a variety of different consequences for the user and for those around him/her.

When a person has a strong need to use a substance to feel normal or to cope, their use is described as a dependency.