Adverse drug effects as a deterrent against willingness to use in the future among nightclub/festival attendees.
Drug and Alcohol Review September 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13673 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 2,981 |
| Population | Adults (age ≥ 18) entering nightclubs or dance festivals in New York City |
| Topics | MDMA |
| Keywords | Cocaine Poisoning Drug safety Recreational drugs Nightclub drugs Drug consumption Drug reactions Negative effects Adverse effects Harm reduction |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | Experiencing an adverse effect after past-month cocaine or ecstasy use was associated with lower willingness to use again, but this association was not significant for LSD or ketamine. |
Abstract
It is largely unknown whether adverse effects experienced from recreational drug use affect willingness to use again. This study determined whether adverse effects from select party drugs affect reported willingness to use again in the next month among a high-risk population-people who attend electronic dance music parties at nightclubs or dance festivals. Adults (age ≥ 18) entering nightclubs/festivals were surveyed in New York City in 2018-2022 (n = 2981). Participants were asked about past-month use of common party drugs (cocaine, ecstasy, lysergic acid diethylamide [LSD] and ketamine), whether they had experienced a harmful or very unpleasant effect after use in the past 30 days, and whether they intend to use again in the next 30 days if offered by a friend. The relationship between having experienced an adverse outcome and willingness to use again was examined in a bivariable and multivariable manner. Experiencing an adverse effect after past-month cocaine (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35-0.95) or ecstasy use (aPR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.25-0.80) was associated with lower risk for willingness to use again. Adverse effects related to LSD use were related to lower risk of being willing to use again in the bivariable model, but in multivariable models, risk was not attenuated for willingness to use LSD or ketamine again. Personally experienced adverse effects can deter willingness to use certain party drugs again in this high-risk population. Interventions targeting cessation of recreational party drug use can likely benefit from focusing on deleterious effects of use that have been experienced.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on MDMA, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreational MDMA use in Sydney: a profile of ‘Ecstasy’ users and their experiences with the drug Recreational Ecstasy users recruited via snowball peer network | 1992 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 100 |
| Reducedin vivobinding to the serotonin transporter in the cerebral cortex of MDMA (‘ecstasy’) users Male regular ecstasy users and well-matched controls | 1999 | Cross-sectional association study | n = 20 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland Drug users at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, aged 16-47, 80% between 18 and... | 2001 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 122 |
| Acute, sub‐acute and long‐term subjective consequences of ‘ecstasy’ (MDMA) consumption in 430 regular users Regular MDMA users | 2003 | Cross-sectional study | n = 466 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
Cites 3
- There's something about Molly: The underresearched yet popular powder form of ecstasy in the United States. Substance Abuse 2017
- Journey through the K-hole: phenomenological aspects of ketamine use. Drug and Alcohol Dependence March 19, 2008
- An in-depth qualitative examination of the ecstasy experience: results of a focus group with ecstasy-using college students. Substance Use & Misuse 2005