NCJ Number
220236
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 145-161
Date Published
2007
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study explored the association between ecstasy and other club drugs (EOCD) use and high-risk sexual behaviors among a sample of club rave attendees interviewed in 2005.
Abstract
Only 12 percent of the study sample reported using ecstasy within the 2 days preceding the interview. Recent other club drug use was virtually nonexistent, as was the relationship between recent 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy) use and high-risk sexual behaviors. Taken collectively, the prevalence and dependence findings suggest that while the recent ecstasy use among rave attendees may be declining, those persons who do use the drug are at high risk for MDMA dependence. The race findings are consistent with a growing body of research that has identified the use of ecstasy as primarily a White phenomenon. These results also suggest that ecstasy education and prevention programs might benefit from greater sensitivity to racial differences. The low rates of recent ecstasy use in this study relative to earlier studies of rave attendees in the United States suggest that its use within this population may be declining. Raves are characterized by large numbers of youth dancing for long periods of time and by the use of “club drugs”, such as MDMA or ecstasy. While a small body of research has explored the use of ecstasy and other club drugs (EOCD) among club rave attendees in America, there are no studies that have investigated the relationship between EOCD use and high-risk sexual behaviors among members of this population. This study explored the association between EOCD use and high-risk sexual behaviors among 283 club rave attendees along the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Data were collected at 13 rave events in 2 different clubs between March 17 and September 3, 2005. Table, references