The purpose of the present study was to examine the characteristics of females who experience premenstrual syndrome as a trigger for drug use. In 2017, the Research and Training Institute Ministry of Justice surveyed amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) users incarcerated in penal institutions nationwide. Herein, we conducted a secondary analysis in which females who experienced any of the four symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (discomfort, fatigue, appetite regulation, and sleep disturbances) as triggers for drug use were defined as the “applicable group” (n=94), while those who did not were defined as the “control group” (n=88). Differences between the two groups were examined by considering items related to perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of drug and ATS use. The applicable group started using ATS at a younger age, used ATS more days per month on average, and had higher scores on the Drug Abuse Screening Test-20 (which assesses the severity of drug issues) than the control group. These findings suggest that the applicable group may experience more serious drug problems and require more treatment than the control group. Considering items answered by the applicable group as beneficial, ATS use could have relieved symptoms frequently associated with premenstrual syndrome in the applicable group.