Page:Drug Use and Nightlife： More than Just Dance Music.pdf/1

Van Havere et al. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2011, 6:18http://www.substanceabusepolicy.com/content/6/1/18





Tina Van Havere1*, Wouter Vanderplasschen2, Jan Lammertyn3, Eric Broekaert4 and Mark Bellis5

2011 Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 6(18) 1-11 BioMed Central Ltd http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1747-597X-6-18

Author Affiliation
 * Correspondence: Tina.VanHavere@hogent.be

1Department of Social Work and Welfare Studies University College Ghent Voskenslaan 362-370, 9000

2Department of Orthopedagogics Ghent University H. Dunantlaan 2, 9000

3PC-lab of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences Ghent University H. Dunantlaan 1, 9000

4Department of Orthopedagogics Ghent University

5Centre for Public Health Liverpool John Moores University 5th Floor, Kingsway House, Hatton Garden L3 2AJ

Abstract

Background: Research over the last decade has focused almost exclusively on the association between electronic music and MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine or “ecstasy”) or other stimulant drug use in clubs. Less attention has been given to other nightlife venues and music preferences, such as rock music or southern/funky music. This study aims to examine a broader spectrum of nightlife, beyond dance music. It looks at whether certain factors influence the frequency of illegal drug and alcohol use: the frequency of going to certain nightlife venues in the previous month (such as, pubs, clubs or goa parties); listening to rock music, dance music or southern and funky music; or sampling venues (such as, clubs, dance events or rock festivals). The question of how these nightlife variables influence the use of popular drugs like alcohol, MDMA, cannabis, cocaine and amphetamines is addressed.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 775 visitors of dance events, clubs and rock festivals in Belgium. Study participants answered a survey on patterns of going out, music preferences and drug use. Odds ratios were used to determine whether the odds of being an illegal substance user are higher for certain nightlife-related variables. Furthermore, five separate ordinal regression analyses were used to investigate drug use in relation to music preference, venues visited during the last month and sampling venue.

Results: Respondents who used illegal drugs were 2.5 times more likely to report that they prefer dance music. Goa party visitors were nearly 5 times more likely to use illegal drugs. For those who reported visiting clubs, the odds of using illegal drugs were nearly 2 times higher. Having gone to a pub in the last month was associated with both more frequent alcohol use and more frequent illegal substance use. People who reported liking rock music and attendees of rock festivals used drugs less frequently.

Conclusions: It was concluded that a more extended recreational environment, beyond dance clubs, is associated with frequent drug use. This stresses the importance of targeted prevention in various recreational venues tailored to the specific needs of the setting and its visitors.

Background Epidemiological studies have shown that so-called party people (a global term for people who visit clubs, parties of all kinds, music festivals and dance events) are more experienced with illegal drugs than other groups of young people who “go out”. A recent study by Calafat et al. demonstrated that factors associated with various recreational nightlife activities, such as music preference and venue choice, were relevant predictors of illegal drug use in several European countries. Thus, studying the relationship between particular music preferences, or behavioural patterns of “going out” and illegal drug use, may help to identify potential pathways for targeted interventions to reduce drug-related harm among at-risk groups. However, over the last decade, such research has focused almost exclusively on the correlation between electronic music and MDMA or other stimulant drug use. While typical “club drugs”, such as MDMA (XTC), cocaine (coke) and amphetamines (speed), have been closely linked to dance music , significantly less attention has been given to other music preferences, such as rock music. This study aims to examine a broader spectrum of nightlife, beyond dance music. It looks at whether certain