Illicit Drug Use in the Flemish Nightlife Scene between 2003 and 2009

Abstract

Aims: Given the importance of party people as innovators and early adaptors in the diffusion of substance use, and given the lack of longitudinal scope in studies of the nightlife scene, we explored changes in illicit drug use among young people participating in the nightlife scene in Flanders. Methods: A survey among party people selected at dance events, rock festivals and clubs was held in the summer of 2003 and repeated in 2005, 2007 and 2009. In total, 2,812 respondents filled in a questionnaire on the use of cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamines, GHB and ketamine. Results: The results of the multiple logistic regression analyses show that in the group of frequent pub visitors, the predicting probability of cannabis use increased over time, while the gap in drug use between dance music lovers and non-lovers of dance music narrowed. For cocaine use during the last year, an increase was found related to the housing situation (alone or with parents) of respondents. While the odds of using ecstasy decreased over the years, the odds of using GHB increased. Conclusion: We can conclude that monitoring emerging trends, which can be quickly observed in the nightlife scene, provides meaningful information for anticipating possible trends.

Illicit Drug Use and Associated Problems in the Nightlife Scene: A Potential Setting for Prevention

“…Compared with previous studies conducted in nightlife settings, the present study showed a similarly high prevalence of illicit drug use during the previous year as that among club goers in Norway (43%) [20] and among staff at licensed premises in Stockholm (47% among 18-to 24-year-olds) [56]. Furthermore, in line with previous studies, the most commonly used drugs were cannabis, followed by ecstasy, cocaine, and amphetamine [4,[11][12][13]15,17,20,[23][24][25][26][27]41]. Moreover, 11% of participants reported last-year use of ketamine.…”

“…The age of onset was lowest for cannabis (median: 17; interquartile range (IQR): 16-19) and highest for ketamine (median: 23; IQR: 21-27) (Figure 3). The median age of onset was 20 for magic mushrooms (IQR: 19-23) and 21 for ecstasy (IQR: 19-23), amphetamine (IQR: 19-23), cocaine (IQR: 19-24), and LSD (IQR: [19][20][21][22][23][24]. As a comparison, the median age for first use was 15 for alcohol (IQR: 14-16) and 16 for tobacco products (IQR: 14-17), respectively.…”

Do Novel Psychoactive Substances Displace Established Club Drugs, Supplement Them or Act as Drugs of Initiation? The relationship between Mephedrone, Ecstasy and Cocaine

“…Subsequent surveys have confirmed continued high levels of mephedrone use in the gay dance clubs under discussion, with mephedrone remaining the most popular drug, with fieldwork night use increasing from 27% of south London gay dance club-goers in 2010 to 43% in 2011 [10,11]. We suggest that on balance research on ‘early adopters, adaptors and innovators' of psychostimulant/club drug trends provides crucial information for anticipating possible trends whilst also addressing the concerns of underestimation of drug use in general population surveys [33]. …”

Trends in gamma‐hydroxybutyrate‐related harms based on ambulance attendances from 2012 to 2018 in Victoria, Australia

“…In Australia, previous data collection has relied on self‐reported information from sentinel populations, including ‘recreational’ or ‘party drug’ cohorts (e.g. ), but these data may not be representative of use and related harms across the community.…”