Illicit drug use and experience of harm in the night-time economy. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miller, Peter; Droste, Nicolas; Martino, Florentine; Palmer, Darren; Tindall, Jennifer; Gillham, Karen; Wiggers, John
• Is Part Of: Journal of substance use. Volume 20:Number 4(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 274
• Page End: 281
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Medication abuse -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.3109/14659891.2014.911974
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1465-9891

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The study investigates illicit drug use in the night-time economy and its association with intoxication, harm and violence experienced by licensed venue patrons. Five-minute structured interviews measuring event-level data were conducted over a 15-month period (March 2010–June 2011) between 9 pm and 1 am. A total of 3949 patrons were interviewed in Newcastle and Geelong, Australian regional cities close to capital cities. Mean age was 24.3 years old (SD=5.8) and 54.4% were male. Six percent of the sample self-reported consuming illicit substances at the time of interview; 7.3% at nightclub venues, 11.8% in the street, 5.5% in pubs and 2.8% in bars. Amphetamines, methamphetamines and ecstasy accounted for two-thirds of substance use. Patrons who reported consuming illicit drugs were 1.90 times as likely to be involved in a prior violent incident (OR 1.35–2.70 95% CI, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Participants who reported illicit drug use at the time of interview were likely to be 0.89 (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) points higher on self-reported intoxication scale (0–10), and were more likely to have engaged in high risk alcohol consumption χ² (1, <italic>n</italic> = 3396) = 9.63, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) than those who did not report using drugs. Illicit drug use contributes significantly to the burden of harm and intoxication in night-time environments, despite being a minority behavior.</p> </abstract>