Drugs and Alcohol

Hey THRIVE readers, welcome back! To be honest, we all know that college life comes with a whole lot of freedom, and for some of us that might mean parties and late nights. However, in the middle of having fun, it’s easy to overlook how common and risky alcohol and drugs can be. I’m sure you’ve been told countless times about the risks of consuming it but we’re here to highlight the real impact these substances can have on your health and wellbeing. After learning the facts, it’s up to you to make the choice that’s right for you. You have the ability to live a healthier life and we can support you every step of the way. We’ll start by introducing the different types of drugs and alcohol, and teach you important things you need to know to protect yourself!

Alcohol

In Australia, alcohol is the second leading cause of drug-related death and hospital admissions after tobacco. The National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre found that each week around five Australians aged 15-24 years die and another 200 end up in hospital due to alcohol-related causes.

What are your thoughts on people drinking wine in a restaurant and friends having a night out drinking and partying in the club? There is a misconception created by advertisements, movies, or peers that “”wine drunk”” is different from being drunk off beer or liquor, making the drinker feel warm, cozy, or relaxed. The truth is no matter what alcohol you choose to drink, the symptoms you feel when drunk are produced by the same ingredient, which is ethyl alcohol or ethanol. The drunk symptoms you feel and how intense they are come down to different factors, that are unrelated to the type of alcohol.

Here are ways you can drink responsibly:

Check the drink’s alcohol concentration. You can read the drink label or ask the bartender. The higher the alcohol concentration, the drunker you’ll feel.
Control how much you consume. Wine is often sipped and consumed slower than other drinks, which leads to drinking less. The less you drink, the less drunk you get.
Slow down when drinking. The faster alcohol gets into your bloodstream, the drunker you’ll feel, especially for people who chug beers or take multiple tequila shots.
Be aware of drink spiking. It happens when a person adds alcohol or another drug to someone’s drink without them knowing. Keep your drink close to you, keep an eye on it and don’t leave it unattended. Read this NSW Police fact sheet to learn more.

Drugs

A drug is a chemical substance, other than food or water, that can change the way the body physically or mentally functions. Based on how drugs affect our bodies, there are three groups that you should know:

Depressants
This type of drug slows down the messages between the brain and body, as well as your ability to respond to what’s happening around you. Examples include alcohol, cannabis (marijuana), GHB, and opioid. Small amounts of depressants can make you feel relaxed and calm but do be careful because large doses can cause vomiting, nausea, unconsciousness, and even death.
Hallucinogens
This drug is called hallucinogen because it causes the user to hallucinate, like seeing or hearing things that are not really there! Hallucinogens affect your senses and change the way you see, hear, taste, smell or feel things. It includes cannabis, ketamine, LSD, PCP, and psilocybin (or more commonly known as magic mushrooms). Large doses may also cause memory loss, anxiety, paranoia, panic, and aggression.
Stimulants
The exact opposite of depressants are stimulants that speed up the messages between the brain and body. This includes things you see everyday such as caffeine in coffee and nicotine in tobacco, to more harmful drugs like cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), and amphetamines. It can make you feel more awake and energetic but larger doses can cause anxiety, panic, seizures, paranoia, and even heat stroke because body temparature increases after consuming it.

Do you or anyone around you smoke? If yes, do you know what is inside that cigarette? Tobacco is the common name for any product prepared from the cured leaves of several plants that contain highly addictive stimulant alkaloid nicotine. The use of tobacco can cause many deadly diseases, such as lung cancer and heart disease. According to World Health Organisation, tobacco kills up to half of its users who do not quit. If you want to learn more about why so many people smoke and how you can quit, read this article on building a Smoke-Free Life.

What are party drugs?

Party drugs are a group of stimulants and hallucinogens that are often used by young people in parties, music festivals, raves, or concerts. A study has found that drug toxicity was the main cause of death at Australian music festivals and most deaths were unintentional. The drug most commonly detected as being used was ecstasy (MDMA) with most cases reporting the use of two or more drugs (including alcohol).

Taking drugs is never safe, and illegal or illicit drugs are even riskier because you often have no idea what is actually in them or how strong they are. The drug pills/tablets/capsules/powders can have a different purity of what the seller told you or don’t actually contain any. There can be serious risks to your health and life.

In early 2025, the NSW Government introduced a 12-month trial drug checking or pill testing program at selected music festivals. People attending the festivals can test small samples of their substances, discuss the test results and potential dangers with peer workers, and be educated on how to reduce their risk. You can detect dangerous products before they are consumed and prevent harm. This empowers you to make informed decisions on whether you want to continue consuming the drug or safely dispose it, and access support and health services you may need. NSW Health and NSW Police are working together to ensure that people can access the drug checking service without concern.

Here’s a few things you need to know to protect yourself:

Use of any drugs has risks.
Your choices of drugs or alcohol are yours alone. If you feel uncomfortable, saying no is always allowed and do not let anyone pressure you into doing something you don’t like.
With any new substance, always start with a lower dose and wait at least 2 hours before taking more.
Avoid taking large amounts of any drug.
Avoid using drugs alone, be with someone you trust to help if anything goes wrong.
Practice safer usage by understanding harm reduction tips such as not sharing needles and learning more through Hi-Ground.
Be aware that taking drugs or drinking alcohol can worsen feelings of sadness or depression. You can reach out if you need any support during this time.
Stay up to date with recent drug alerts. You can check out The Know to get new drug alerts from all around Australia or follow ACON’s Between The Lines Instagram account!
Understand the legal risks. Using, selling or carrying illicit drugs is currently against the law in Australia.

By understanding the effects of different substances, you have successfully made the first step in making safer choices. College is a time for new experiences but that doesn’t mean putting your safety at risk. Stay informed and remember that the Student Wellbeing Team is always ready to support you whenever you need it.