What’s the attraction? Social connectedness as a driver of recreational drug use

ABSTRACT

Background: Licit and illicit drugs are commonly used for recreational purposes, with users viewing them as a relatively safe and acceptable leisure activity. This study proposes key drivers for better understanding the attractions of recreational drugs and factors that underwrite their popularity.

Method: In-depth interviews were conducted with key informants whose roles were to share their experiences and to act as field observers of the complex scenarios and contexts that constitute the recreational drug scene in Gold Coast Region of Australia. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach.

Results: Recreational drug use takes place in complex social settings and entails extensive codes and practices. Two ascribed benefits underpinned recreational drug use: (1) improved social connectedness and (2) enhanced performance. This paper reports on the relationship between recreational drug use and social connectedness.

Discussion and conclusions: Enhanced social connectedness seems to contribute to the attractiveness and acts as a potent force underpinning recreational drug use. This research suggests that harm mitigation strategies must speak to a wider audience as well as address the social attraction of drugs because focusing on younger populations and antisocial features does not seem to reflect reality for recreational users.

KEYWORDS:

• Recreational drugs
• social connectedness
• codes of conduct

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank the study participants for sharing their observations and Griffith University for providing administrative support. We extend our gratitude to The HIV Foundation Queensland for providing financial assistance in reporting the study. Administrative and financial assistance must not be taken as endorsement of the contents of this report.

Notes

¹ Weed – Marijuana

² Ecstasy – methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)

³ Coke - Cocaine

⁴ Ice – Crystalline methamphetamine

⁵ DMT - dimethyltrytamine

⁶ LSD – d-lyseric acid diethyamide