title: Group influences on individuals' drinking and other drug use at clubs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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 findings regarding group effects on marijuana use. The most consistent finding 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.
authors: Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, California 94704, USA. bmiller@prev.org
authors: Brenda A
authors: BA
authors: Miller
authors: Hilary F
authors: HF
authors: Byrnes
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Branner
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Johnson
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Voas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D003625:Data Collection; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D010379:Peer Group; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012147:Restaurants; D012919:Social Behavior; D012941:Social Responsibility; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
references: Psychol Addict Behav. 2003 Jun;17(2):115-25
references: 12814275
references: J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2009 Mar;70(2):261-8
references: 19261238
references: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2006;32(2):261-74
references: 16595327
references: Soc Sci Med. 2002 Aug;55(3):415-24
references: 12144149
references: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2010 Jan;36(1):39-45
references: 20141395
references: Psychol Addict Behav. 2012 Dec;26(4):747-58
references: 22732054
references: J Subst Abuse. 2001;13(4):391-424
references: 11775073
references: Am J Health Stud. 2011 Jan 1;26(4):185-195
references: 24634576
references: Traffic Inj Prev. 2012;13(6):577-84
references: 23137088
references: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2006;32(2):275-85
references: 16595328
references: Eval Rev. 2006 Feb;30(1):44-65
references: 16394186
references: Psychol Addict Behav. 2004 Jun;18(2):190-3
references: 15238062
references: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2000 Nov;24(11):1666-79
references: 11104114