To the Editor: Studies of non-representative population samples show that recreational drug use is more prevalent among non-heterosexual women than heterosexual women.1 The Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health2 allowed an examination of the links between sexuality and recreational drug use in a representative sample of 9260 women aged 22–27 years in 2000.

Respondents reported their history of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use. Reported frequency and volume of alcohol consumption were recorded according to National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines.3 Use of illicit drugs in the last year was dichotomised between marijuana and other illicit drugs (see Box). Respondents also indicated whether they had ever injected illicit drugs.

Analyses compared exclusively heterosexual women with all other women. Data were weighted to correct for over-sampling in non-metropolitan areas. Odds ratios were adjusted for age, region of residence, and father’s occupation (as a measure of social class).

Younger women were significantly more likely to report risky drinking and illicit drug use. Women from urban areas were significantly more likely to be non-heterosexual and to use illicit drugs, but less likely to report risky levels of alcohol consumption. Women whose fathers were professionals or managers were significantly more likely to be non-heterosexual and more likely to use illicit drugs, but less likely to smoke or report risky drinking. Details are available from the authors.

Non-heterosexual women were significantly more likely than heterosexual women to have ever smoked, to be current smokers, to report risky levels of alcohol consumption, to have used marijuana and other illicit drugs in the last year, and to have ever injected drugs (Box). Although these relative differences are important, so too are the absolute values — 45.6% of non-heterosexual women were smokers, and 45.6% reported alcohol consumption of concern. In the last year, 58.2% used marijuana and 40.7% used other illicit drugs. One in 10 had ever injected illicit drugs.

Although women are generally less likely than men to use drugs, and may not be a high-priority target for drug education, non-heterosexual young women’s rates of illicit drug use are at least as high as those of young men.4 Higher levels of drug use among young non-heterosexual women may be the result of individual experiences of homophobic discrimination, where drugs are used as an — albeit, short lived — panacea.1 Greater drug use may also be the result of normalisation of recreational drug use within lesbian communities.5 There is a need for specific interventions in young non-heterosexual women, and for further research to determine the reasons for their high levels of recreational drug use.