title: Illicit drug use among rave attendees in a nationally representative sample of US high school seniors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The popularity of electronic dance music and rave parties such as dance festivals has increased in recent years. Targeted samples of party-goers suggest high rates of drug use among attendees, but few nationally representative studies have examined these associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined sociodemographic correlates of rave attendance and relationships between rave attendance and recent (12-month) use of various drugs in a representative sample of US high school seniors (modal age: 18) from the Monitoring the Future study (2011-2013; Weighted N=7373).
  
  
  RESULTS
  One out of five students (19.8%) reported ever attending a rave, and 7.7% reported attending at least monthly. Females and highly religious students were less likely to attend raves, and Hispanics, students residing in cities, students with higher income and those who go out for fun multiple times per week were more likely to attend. Rave attendees were more likely than non-attendees to report use of an illicit drug other than marijuana (35.5% vs. 15.6%, p<0.0001). Attendees were more likely to report use of each of the 18 drugs assessed, and attendees were more likely to report more frequent use (≥6 times) of each drug (ps<0.0001). Controlling for sociodemographic covariates, frequent attendance (monthly or more often) was associated with higher odds of use of each drug (ps<0.0001). Frequent attendees were at highest risk for use of "club drugs."
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from this study can help inform prevention and harm reduction among rave attendees at greatest risk for drug use.
authors.affiliation: New York University Langone Medical Center, Department of Population Health, New York, NY, USA; Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY, USA; Center for Health, Identity, Behavior, and Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: joseph.palamar@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Palamar
authors.affiliation: Center for Health, Identity, Behavior, and Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY, USA; Global Institute of Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Marybec
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griffin-Tomas
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY, USA; Center for Health, Identity, Behavior, and Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY, USA; Global Institute of Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ompad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003615:Dancing; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: Adolescents; Club drugs; Dance festivals; Raves