Life can throw us many challenges and for some, alcohol and other drugs can provide a coping strategy, a sense of identity and a stop gap between the difficulties of life. For others, it may simply be seen as an extension of their social lives as something to be enjoyed and shared. Others come to rely on substances out of necessity, to abate significant trauma and mental distress. Pain management and the need to escape discomfort or distress, is also a common gateway to dependence.

Some people can utilise substances with minimal risk or impact to their daily lives, while others find themselves dependent on drugs and/or alcohol just to make it through the day, to which problems can arise and compound over time. Each substance comes with its own unique health impacts and effects on our physical and mental health. For example, Alcohol, Opiates and Benzodiazepines all have the potential to become habit forming and create a physical dependence, which can require medical intervention to break down. Other substances such as Cannabis and Psychedelics (Mushrooms, MDMA, LSD) are less likely to cause physical dependence, but can have strong psychological impacts that can be habit forming when seeking to maintain the euphoric effects or sense of wellbeing that these drugs create. Substances like Methamphetamines can result in dependence and neurotoxicity after extended periods of use, which can lead to mental health challenges such as psychosis, particularly after extended periods without sleep. Each substance comes with a unique set of physical and mental risk factors, which can vary from a mild hangover to a loss of connection with reality, or even death. The diversity of substances in our society brings a range of unique properties and impacts, which leads to a range of challenges.