TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Investigating differences between drugs used in the Australian night-time economy: demographics, substance use, and harm
JO  - Substance use and misuse
A1  - Pennay, Amy
A1  - Jenkinson, Rebecca
A1  - Quinn, Brendan
A1  - Droste, Nicolas Tom
A1  - Peacock, Amy
A1  - Lubman, Daniel Ian
A1  - Miller, Peter G.
SP  - 71
EP  - 81
VL  - 52
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: Understanding the characteristics of drug users in the night-time economy (NTE), and whether particular drugs are associated with risky practices and experience of harm, is necessary to inform targeted policy responses in this context. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlates of drugs used in the Australian NTE relating to demographics, alcohol use, and experience of harm. <br><br>METHODS: Patrons were interviewed in the NTE of five Australian cities in 2012-2013 (n = 7,028; 61.9% male, median age 22 years). A custom designed survey gathered demographic data, alcohol, and substance use on the current night, and experience of harm in/around licensed venues in the past 3 months. Multivariate logistic regression analyses examined the correlates of drug use. <br><br>RESULTS: Ecstasy was most commonly reported (4.0%), followed by cannabis (2.9%), methamphetamine (2.6%), and cocaine (1.6%). Ecstasy users were more likely to be younger and report energy drink consumption. Cannabis users were more likely to be male, and to have been involved in intoxication-related accidents/injuries and sexual aggression in/around licensed venues in the past 3 months. Methamphetamine users were more likely to have been interviewed later, and to have engaged in pre-drinking. Cocaine users were more likely to be male, aged 21 years or more, have a blood alcohol concentration of greater than 0.10%, and to have been involved in intoxication-related accidents/injuries in the past three months. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: We identified significant differences between types of drug users and the harms they experience, underscoring the need to develop innovative harm reduction policies in the NTE rather than blanket population-based approaches.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1082-6084
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2016.1214153
ID  - ref1
ER  -