Group Influences on Individuals’ Drinking and Other Drug Use at Clubs

Abstract

This article examines effects of the social group on individual alcohol and drug use upon entry and exit from the club. Based on collected biological measurements of alcohol and other drug use, this study explores whether social group indicators (e.g., group characteristics) are predictive of alcohol and other drug use for individual club patrons. Method: A total of 368 social groups, representing 986 individuals (50.7% female), were anonymously surveyed, and biological measures of alcohol and other drug use were collected at entrance and exit to clubs on a single evening. Both individual and group-level indicators were assessed. Because data were clustered by club, event, and group, mixed-model regressions were conducted to account for non-independence. Results: Group indicators of high blood alcohol concentration were being in a group that intends to get drunk, that has at least one member who regularly gets drunk, and that has discrepancies in its expectations regarding drug use. Group indicators related to cocaine use were high levels of drug use expected among group members, little discrepancy among the group members regarding the drug use expected, and high levels of intentions to get drunk. In addition, older groups were more likely to have higher levels of cocaine use. There were less consistent fi ndings regarding group effects on marijuana use. The most consistent fi nding was that high drug use expectations were related to higher levels of marijuana use. Conclusions: Together, these data suggest that strategies should focus on recognizing group indicators as risks for group members. Promoting social responsibility for group members may create safer club experiences among young adults. These efforts could model designated-driver programs as a way to increase safety and social responsibility.

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

“…This provides the opportunity to collect objective measures of substance use at both entry and exit: breath samples (to test for alcohol) and oral fluid samples (to test for drugs). The Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) has conducted portal survey studies at the border crossing into Tijuana, Mexico (Johnson, 2012;Johnson & Clapp, 2011;Kelley-Baker et al, 2012;Lange et al, 2006aLange et al, , 2006b, and at the entrances to clubs that feature electronic music (e.g., Johnson et al, 2012;Miller et al, 2005Miller et al, , 2009Miller et al, , 2013aVoas et al, 2013).…”

“…Recruitment consisted of randomly approaching groups as they approached the club. Detailed recruitment procedures are presented in prior studies Miller et al, 2013a). Respondents provided informed consent to participate in anonymous research before data collection began.…”

“…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).…”

Street intercept method: An innovative approach to recruiting young adult high‐risk drinkers

“…Both portal [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] and intercept [11][12][13][14] studies have obtained fairly high participation rates using random sampling and are able to measure nonresponse bias. The portal approach, however, has limitations, such as restricting samples to patrons of specific venues and usually requiring the licensee's permission for recruitment.…”

Self-reported cannabis products and other illicit drugs consumption in older school-age children in Northern Lithuania: A comparison between 2006 and 2012

“…Authors from different countries found that cannabis products abuse leads to the same adverse effects as of other illicit drugs [3][4][5][6]. The regular use of cannabis products is associated with an increase of the incidence in mental disorders for young people [7].…”