Substance Use

Substance use is a regular part of modern society. Some substances are more culturally acceptable than others, some substances are legal while others are illegal. Using substances doesn’t make you a bad person, but it is important to think about how to use substances safely and with your health and wellbeing in mind.

People use substances for a variety of reasons including for fun, pleasure, and connection, to reach a different realm or to escape reality altogether.

There is a difference though between substance use and harmful substance use. The same way we can recognise that drinking a moderate amount of alcohol is different to drinking alcohol to excess, the same applies to all substances. There are ways you can mitigate risks if you are going to use substances.

Trans and gender diverse people, just like cis people, can have different relationships with substance use. Given the level of discrimination and stigma we face it’s no surprise though that some trans people shoulder a heavy burden of harmful substance use. This page offers information and resources to help you assess, learn more and get a better handle on your substance use, including where to find help.

To develop this page, we worked with the ACON team responsible for Pivot Point and who lead ACON’s work addressing any harms associated with substance use in LGBTQ+ communities, including through the world famous Rover Program.

Substances and risks

Different substances have different effects, risks, and interactions with other medications. This will vary from person to person, even if you’re on the same medications, or hormones, and have had similar effects in the past.

Understand the risks involved for you personally, and starting off low and slow is the best way to make sure you’re looking after yourself.

This drugs wheel from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation shows different types of substances and their most common effects (desired and undesired).

Below is a list of substances and some information about them. For more information from TouchBase, click of the names of any substance.

Stimulants

Stimulants speed up normal brain function, increasing the signals from the brain and increasing other aspects of bodily function like blood pressure and pulse. Stimulants generally can make people feel more alert, energetic, and even euphoric.

Tobacco

Tobacco’s effects are derived from nicotine, and typically is inhaled through cigarettes.. E-cigarettes contain nicotine but no tobacco.

Cocaine

Cocaine is derived from the leaves of the coca bush, which is then able to be processed into either cocaine (a white powdery substance), freebase, or crack.

Amphetamines

Amphetamines include substances like speed, ice, base, and in prescription medications like Ritalin or Adderall.

Crystal Meth/Ice

Crystal meth is a form of methamphetamine which is a white or clear crystaline powder that is smoked or injected.

Amyl

Amyl nitrite, or poppers, are a vasodilator, which means they dilate the body’s blood vessels. They are often used to enhance sexual pleasure, and increase sexual function for erections, throats and butts.

Opiates

Opiates and opioids (prescription or illicit) are any drug that effects the brain’s opioid receptors, or that are naturally or synthetically related to the opium poppy. As well as having pain-relieving function, they also have a similar function to depressants, in that they can make you feel calm or more relaxed. We know that long-term use of opiates can affect some hormones, and it’s important to get your levels tested regularly while on them.

Heroin

Heroin is an opiate and is either injected, snorted or smoked.

Methadone

Methadone, Buprenorphine and Suboxone are prescribed as part of an Opiate Treatment Program to help people to manage opiate dependence.

Other substances

Steroids

Steroids are synthetic hormones that imitate testosterone and are often known as Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs or PIEDs.

Depressants

Depressants slow down normal brain function. They don’t make you feel “depressed” but rather ‘depress’ the function of signals from the brain. Depressants can make you feel calm and more relaxed.

Alcohol

Alcohol’s effects are derived from ethanol, which is present in all alcoholic beverages.

Benzos

Benzodiazepine is a prescription stress and anxiety medication, and a mild tranquiliser. They’re often used to help with the come down of some stimulants, or for insomnia in the short term.

GHB/GBL

GHB/GBL or gamma hydroxybutyrate is a clear liquid that slows down the chemical messages from our brain.

Hallucinogenics

Hallucinogenic drugs, or psychedelics, distort the users perception of reality. This can include altering visual, auditory or other sensory experiences, or changing how someone feels. How hallucinogens feel will vary from user to user.

Cannabis

Cannabis originates from cannabis plants and contains cannabinoids, which have an effect on the human body’s cannabinoid system. The effects of cannabis can vary between people and between plant varieties. Some plant varieties can have a stimulant effect, while others have a calming effect. As cannabis is not regulated in Australia, effects can vary greatly. It is smoked, vaped or ingested.

Ecstasy/MDMA

Ecstasy is an empathogen (that ‘loved up’ feeling) but is also chemically closely related to amphetamine, and can come in capsules, as a powder or as a pressed pill with varying doses and effects.

LSD

LSD (which stands for lysergic acid diethylamide) is often taken via small square of blotting paper, gelatine or sugar cube which is dissolved under the tongue. A trip can change your perception of the world and will have different effects for different people.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are certain types of fungi that contain psychoactive chemicals. They look similar to other poisonous mushrooms, so it’s important to know where they came from.

Ketamine

Ketamine is typically used by practitioners as a general anaesthetic. It is also used as an illicit drug and is often sold as a powder. It is a dissociative, which means you may feel disconnected from your body and/or reality if consumed.

Safer substance use

People use a range of substances for a range of reasons, and in a range of ways. While there is no guaranteed safe way to use some substances, there are safer ways to use them, and to look after your health in the process.

Harm reduction means understanding that people will take drugs for different reasons, it does not require a person to cease or reduce using substances but rather aims to provide people who use substances with non-stigmatising support, information and resources that enable safer use and reduce harm.

Needle & Syringe Programs (NSP) provide free and sterile needles and injecting equipment for people across NSW. Find out about ACON’s NSP services here.

The Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL) has a range of information about the legality of drug use in Australia and the changing legal landscape, including this page on The Law and Your Rights in NSW.

Fair Play provides information to our community if we have had a substance-related interaction with the NSW Police (including sniffer dogs and strip searches).

Pivot Point is a digital ACON resource offering lots of information about harm reduction, and links to access support and information for your substance use.

Self-assessment

Engaging in a self-assessment involves understanding the risks associated with using different substances, and how your current use might be impacting your health and safety. It’s not always easy to tell when substance use harmful or dependent, or to recognise that you’ve reached that point.

Pivot Point's self-assessment tool is a good place to start if you’re not sure what may be safe or harmful use of a substance. After completing the anonymous quiz, it will give each substance a risk rating which you can click through for more information about the substances, risks, and avenues for support, reduction and looking after yourself.

Accessing help

Seeking support is a great part of any plan for looking after yourself. This may mean reaching out to a friend, family member or colleague that you trust.

Having a trusted support person can help keep you on a path to feeling better about your substance use and to remind you of what your goals are. Goals are very individual and may include an aim to reduce, stop your use entirely, or develop a new relationship with substances and substance use.

Medical professionals are also great people to talk to, especially if you’re finding the process difficult. They’ll have advice and tools to help link you to existing support services, health pathways and processes, and be someone you can touch base with regularly about how you’re doing.

If you’re in a moment of crisis or emergency, you can always go to a hospital emergency room. If you’re not sure if this is the right option for you, or you’re worried or scared, that’s okay - it’s better to go and make sure you’re taking care of yourself.

It’s especially important to remember that you cannot be charged for already having a substance in your system. If you’re not feeling good, you won’t be charged for going and seeking help. Call 000 immediately.

Substance Support Service

ACON provides free and confidential substance support counselling, both in Sydney and across NSW. You can get in touch here.

Supporting friends

Sometimes you might notice a friend is having a difficult time with substance use, whether it’s using something pretty regularly, using a lot of it at one time, or both. Pivot Point has a great resource about supporting others.