Polydrug Use Among Club-Going Young Adults Recruited Through Time-Space Sampling

Abstract

Though some researchers have indicated club drug users are more likely to be polydrug users, there remains little known about the prevalence and specific combinations of the substances they use. Between 2004Between -2006, and using time-space sampling, a stratified sample of 400 18-29 year old New York City club-going drug-using young adults were recruited into the Club Drugs and Health Project. Most participants (91.7%) had engaged in polydrug use and 1,670 combinations of drugs were reported. Ecstasy (86.6% of users) and cocaine (85.7% of users) were the two most frequently reported club drugs used in combination with other substances. In terms of poly-club-drug combinations, ecstasy appeared to be the "universal compliment" as this drug was most often cited in combinations with other club drugs (specifically ecstasy + ketamine, ecstasy + cocaine, ecstasy + GHB). Other frequently cited drug combinations included cocaine and marijuana, ecstasy and marijuana, LSD and marijuana, and cocaine and alcohol. These data highlight the need to develop drug health education and prevention messages targeted at polydrug use.

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“…Ecstasy/MDMA is the most widely used drug in EDM culture (Grov, Kelly, & Parsons, 2009;Hunt, Evans, Moloney, & Bailey, 2009), a fact confirmed by the participants in this study. Participants also reported using other drugs such as speed, LSD, psilocybin, mescaline and San Pedro, as well as some of these drugs in combination with Ecstasy/MDMA.…”

Neuropsychological effects associated with recreational cocaine use

“…Given the high rate of polydrug use among recreational users (e.g. Kelly and Parsons, 2008;Grov et al, 2009), isolating the effects of cocaine on cognitive functioning is a difficult task. Here we will minimize polydrug effects in the cocaine group by not excluding participants who reported other drug use (with the exception of cocaine).…”

Mental Health and Cannabis Abusers of Kashmir Valley

“…National Co-morbidity Survey found that 90% of cannabis-dependent individuals had lifetime co-morbid psychiatric disorders [15]. Cannabis use is associated with the use of other substances including cocaine, hallucinogens, ketamine and prescription drugs [16,17]. Findings of high prevalence of comorbid cannabis use and depression have been replicated in many large-scale cross-sectional studies and in mental health surveys.…”