title: Drug use in Australian nightlife settings: estimation of prevalence and validity of self-report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to (1) estimate the prevalence of illicit drug use in night-time entertainment districts across five major cities in Australia; and (2) validate self-reported drug use using biochemical marker oral swabs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Street intercept surveys and oral drug swabs conducted over a 7-month period during 2011-12.
  
  
  METHODS
  The night-time entertainment districts of three metropolitan cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Perth) and two regional cities (Wollongong and Geelong) in Australia, between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 7581 individuals agreed to participate in the survey (93% response rate). More than half (62%) the sample was male, with a median age of 22 years (range 18-73).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patrons were approached in thoroughfares and while entering and leaving licensed venues. Data collected included demographics and current session alcohol and other substance use. Drug swabs (n = 401) were performed with a subsample of participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 9% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 7-12%] of participants self-reported consumption of illicit or non-prescribed pharmaceutical drugs prior to interview; of those, 81% identified psychostimulants as the drug used. One in five drug swabs returned a positive result, with psychostimulants the most commonly detected drugs (15%; 95% CI = 12-19%). Kappa statistics indicate agreement between self-report of any illicit drug and a positive drug swab is in the slight range [κ = 0.12 (95% CI = 0.05-0.20) P = 0.000].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-report findings suggest drug use in Australian nightlife is common, although still very much a minority past-time. Drug swabs indicate a higher prevalence of use (20%) than self-report (9%), which suggests that self-reported drug use may not be reliable in this context.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
authors.forename: Ashlee
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: Burnet Institute, Monash University and Australian Institute of Family Studies, Melsbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jenkinson
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Droste
authors.affiliation: Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia.
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bowe
authors.affiliation: Melbourne School of Global and Population Health, University of Melbourne and Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Turning Point, Eastern Health, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pennay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011998:Recreation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D057566:Self Report; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: Cannabis; cocaine; ecstasy; illicit drugs; intoxication; licensed venues; methamphetamine; night-time entertainment districts; self-report; stimulants