NCJ Number
212709
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 35 Issue: 4 Dated: Fall 2005 Pages: 695-732
Date Published
2005
Length
38 pages
Annotation
Based on data from ongoing research on the social context of ecstasy and other club-drug use in the San Francisco Bay Area, this study examined Asian-Americans' involvement in the dance scene and use of club drugs.
Abstract
Interviews were conducted with 56 young self-identified Asian-American club and "rave" attendees between February 2002 and November 2003. The interviews focused on the social groupings of which they were a part, the types of social events they attended, and the characteristics of their club-drug use. Overall, the individuals in the sample were well educated, and 71.4 percent were attending an educational institution. Their income sources were jobs and/or family members; however, 37.5 percent were unemployed at the time of the interview. Regardless of whether the respondents were in Asian-dominated or mixed-ethnic social groups, a significant number made a point of distinguishing themselves and their social groups from other Asians and other Asian groups, as though they were seeking to establish a distinctive identity as an Asian-American. For the majority of respondents, their initial consumption of ecstasy occurred with friends, many of whom were also Asian. The introduction to and the sharing of drugs was, for many respondents, an important group bonding experience. Although many respondents had initially experimented with ecstasy at public dance events, many others talked about enjoying ecstasy use with friends in a more private setting. Ecstasy use was not viewed by most respondents as a generally accepted practice in the Asian-American community, since many noted that they did not mention their drug use to some friends and within some social groups. 2 tables and 51 references