Table 1.

Reasons for Drug Use

Reasons Listed for All Drugsa
To experiment—to see what it’s like
To relax or relieve tension
To feel good or get high
To seek deeper insights and understanding
To have a good time with my friends
To fit in with a group I like
To get away from my problems or troubles
Because of boredom, nothing else to do
Because of anger or frustration
To get through the day
To increase the effects of some other drug(s)
To decrease (offset) the effects of some other drug(s)
Because I am “hooked”—I have to have it
Drug-Specific Reasons	Relevant Drugs
To get to sleep	alcohol, barbiturates, tranquilizers, narcotics other than heroin
Because it tastes good	alcohol
To stay awake	amphetamines, cocaine
To get more energy	amphetamines, cocaine
To help me lose weight	amphetamines
To relieve physical painb	barbiturates, tranquilizers, narcotics other than heroin
As a substitute for heroin	narcotics other than heroin
To control coughingb	narcotics other than heroin

^a“All drugs” includes the following: alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, heroin, LSD, marijuana, narcotics other than heroin, and tranquilizers.

^bNot asked until 1978.