Rural Australia has one of the highest rates of youth suicide in the world. In many cases, the suicide of a young adult living in a rural setting, or an unsuccessful attempt of the act, has been attributed to drug and alcohol usage. Such behaviour may also be related to other factors, such as depression, boredom and social isolation, which may have consequences for the motivational behaviour of the individual. Considered together, these issues suggest that the relationship between leisure boredom, intrinsic motivation and the level of drug and alcohol use by young adults living in a rural setting may be a worthy area for further research.