Investigation of alcohol, caffeine, illicit drug and cognitive enhancer use in an Australian population and the personality traits associated with substance use

Aims: It has been found that alcohol use is positively related with drug and caffeine use and that certain personality traits (e.g., sensation seekers and risk-takers) are more attracted to substance abuse compared to other personality traits. However, there has been little investigation into the personality traits associated with “non-abusive” substance use. The current study aimed to determine Australian’s use of caffeine, alcohol, drugs and cognitive enhancers and to determine the personality traits of healthy substance users. Methods: An online survey was conducted in order to assess the level of consumption of alcohol, caffeine, illicit drugs and cognitive enhancers in Australians aged 13 and older. The online survey was advertised via word-of-mouth, flyers, newspaper and social media. Participants were asked specific questions regarding their use of alcohol, caffeine, illicit drugs and cognitive enhancers, including type and frequency of use. Participants completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and personality traits were measured using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEOPI- R). Results: Analyses revealed that problematic drinking is a common occurrence in Australians across all age groups. Both adolescents and adults who consumed high amounts of alcohol tended to consume more caffeine and were more likely to use illicit drugs compared to those who consumed less alcohol. In adolescents and adults, use of cognitive enhancers did not differ with alcohol consumption. High alcohol users tended to score highly in the personality traits of openness to experience, extraversion and neuroticism. Conclusions: The results of this survey indicate that there is a positive relationship between alcohol, illicit drug and caffeine use in Australian adolescents and adults. High substance users tend to score highly in openness to experience, extraversion and neuroticism