Buzzed, broke, but not busted: How young Australians perceive the consequences of using illicit drugs

Using an online sample of young Australians, this paper explores perceptions of the likelihood of 10 consequences of illicit drug use, including both positive and negative outcomes. Pleasure and concern about financial and school/work problems were perceived to be the most likely consequences to arise from illicit drug use (much more so than trouble with police). These results, although exploratory, provide a nuanced understanding of young people's attitudes towards illicit drugs, and how these attitudes are shaped by the world around them. The results also represent a challenge for public policy, as these notions are largely marginalised from discourse about drug use.