Patterns of recreational drug use at dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland

Aims. To describe the patterns of drug use at dance (rave) events in terms of prevalence, frequency, type of drugs used, patterns of use, access and r isk-associated behaviours. Design. Self-selecting participant-completed sur vey. Setting. Three dance events in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Participants. One hundred and twenty-two drug users (57% males, 43% females), 90% of whom were in employment or education, with an age range of 16-47, 80% between 1 8 and 23 years. Measurements. Participants who answered `yes' to the questi on 'Have you used drugs for dance events in the past year' reported (i) the prevalence, types and frequency of drugs used; (ii) prevalence and content s of mixing drugs; (iii) accessing drugs; and (iv) engagement with drug-ass ociated risk behaviours. Findings. Over 80% of the participants had used ec stasy and amphetamine, over 30% cocaine and LSD; over 10% nitrites, psilocy bin and ketamine and less than 5% had used crack or tranquillizers. Partici pants reported regular consumption of ecstasy and amphetamine (e.g. 35% use d ecstasy and 25% amphetamine on a weekly basis) often taken in combination , with the occasional use of cocaine, LSD, ketamine and psilocybin. Poly- a nd mixing-drug behaviours were significantly more likely than monodrug usag e. Drugs were accessed through friends than from any other source. Eighty-f ive per cent reported mixing drugs and/or alcohol, 35% driving on drugs, 36 % having a bad experience on drugs; 30% unprotected sex; and 0.9% injecting drugs. Women in the sample reported higher consumption than men. Conclusio ns. Dance-drug use has a characteristic pattern that has implications for h ealth promotion and criminal policy.