Toward an ecstasy and other club drug (EOCD) prevention intervention for rave attendees.
A growing body of recent research has identified that "rave" attendees are at high risk for the use of "club drugs," such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "ecstasy"). Rave attendees, however, comprise only one of several club-going populations. In the current study, we explore the prevalence of ecstasy and other club drug (EOCD) use among a sample of club attendees in Washington, DC. Data were collected from adult, primarily homosexual, club attendees during the summer of 2003. Data collection was scheduled between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. Participation rates were high. Of the 211 club attendees approached, 88% (n = 186) completed the interview. Drug use prevalence rates were low. With the exception of alcohol and marijuana, 2-day self-reports were less than 1% for each drug. These findings, amalgamated with results from other EOCD-related studies involving several distinct populations, offer considerable insight into the state of ecstasy in American society. Based on a meta-analysis of this literature, we offer a community-level prevention intervention for the population at highest risk for EOCD use-rave attendees.
Pacific Institute for Research Evaluation (PIRE), Calverton, MD 20705-3102, USA. gyacoubian@pire.org
George S
GS
Yacoubian
Sarah
S
Miller
Selwyn
S
Pianim
Michael
M
Kunz
Erin
E
Orrick
Tanja
T
Link
Wilson R
WR
Palacios
Ronald J
RJ
Peters
D000328:Adult; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine; D015995:Prevalence; D011998:Recreation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine