Assessment of Club Patrons’ Alcohol and Drug Use

Abstract

Background Young adulthood (ages 18–25 years) represents a time when high-risk behaviors, including alcohol and drug use, peak. Electronic music dance events (EMDEs) featured at clubs provide an ecologic niche for these high-risk behaviors. Purpose This paper examines the prevalence of alcohol and drug use among EMDE patrons. Examination of personal characteristics associated with exit levels of alcohol and drug use identifies important indicators of risk taking for prevention strategies. Methods Data were collected anonymously during 2010–2012 from 2028 patrons as they entered and exited clubs in the San Francisco Bay area featuring EMDEs. Nearly half were aged ≤25 years. Biological measures of drug and alcohol and self-reported personal characteristics were attained. Analyses were completed in 2012. Results At entrance, more than one fifth of patrons were positive for drug use and one fourth arrived either impaired (blood alcohol concentration [BAC]: 0.05%–0.079%) or intoxicated (BAC: >0.08%) by alcohol. At exit, one fourth tested positive for drugs, and nearly half were impaired or intoxicated by alcohol. Individual characteristics that were important for levels of risk included prior alcohol use behaviors, sexual identity, ethnic/racial identity, and transportation to the event. Gender did not differentiate for alcohol use but fewer women used drugs. Conclusions Findings confirm the importance of targeting EMDEs for prevention efforts. EMDEs attract young working adults who are engaged in heavy alcohol and/or drug use. Targeting these social settings for delivering public health prevention strategies regarding alcohol and drug use and related harms is indicated by the findings.

Hair testing to assess both known and unknown use of drugs amongst ecstasy users in the electronic dance music scene

“…Recent studies indicate that illicit drug use is highly prevalent amongst nightclub and festival attendees (Hughes, Moxham-Hall, Ritter, Weatherburn, & MacCoun, 2017; Miller, Byrnes, Branner, Voas, & Johnson, 2013; Miller et al, 2015; Nordfjaern, Bretteville-Jensen, Edland-Gryt, & Gripenberg, 2016; Palamar, Barratt, Ferris, & Winstock, 2016; Palamar, Griffin-Tomas, & Ompad, 2015; Palamar, Salomone, Vincenti, & Cleland, 2016). A recent national survey of Australian dance festival-attending adults found that 78.1% of recent users reported using an illicit drug at their last-attended festival, and of users, 85.1% reported use of ecstasy (Hughes et al, 2017).…”

Risky substance use among young adults in the nightlife arena: An underused setting for risk-reducing interventions?

“…States, about 50% of the participants were intoxicated or impaired by alcohol and 25% of the participants tested positive for illicit drugs (Miller et al, 2013). In an EMDE in Sweden, 10% tested positive on oral fluid drug testing for illicit drugs, and 94% tested positive on alcohol with an average BAC level of 1.00‰ (Gripenberg-Abdon et al, 2012).…”

Clubbing With Familiar Social Groups: Relaxed Vigilance and Implications for Risk

“…N IGHTCLUB ENTERTAINMENT, like electronic music dance events (EMDEs), attracts young adults and has been associated with excessive drinking and other drug use (e.g., Miller et al, 2005Miller et al, , 2009Miller et al, , 2013aMiller et al, , 2013b. Although hosted in legitimate, regulated establishments and part of normal entertainment for diverse patrons, EMDE environments often are the scene of negative behaviors like drinking and driving or riding with an impaired driver Voas et al, 2013) and sexual and physical aggression (Miller et al, 2015).…”