TY - JOUR PY - 2019// TI - Adverse drug-related effects among electronic dance music party attendees JO - International journal on drug policy A1 - Palamar, Joseph J. A1 - Acosta, Patricia A1 - Le, Austin A1 - Cleland, Charles M. A1 - Nelson, Lewis S. SP - 81 EP - 87 VL - 73 IS - N2 - BACKGROUND: Drug use is prevalent among electronic dance music (EDM) party attendees, but research is needed to determine the extent of adverse drug-related outcomes in this population in order to better inform prevention and harm reduction efforts.

METHOD: 1029 adults were surveyed entering EDM parties in New York City in 2018. Those reporting past-year use of a drug were asked if they experienced a harmful or very unpleasant effect after use in which they were concerned about their immediate safety. They were also asked about co-use of other drugs and whether they sought help.

RESULTS: We estimate that a third (33.5%) of EDM party attendees have experienced a drug-related adverse effect in the past year. Two-thirds (67.8%) of adverse effects involved use of alcohol. Relative to use, adverse effects most commonly resulted from use of opioids (e.g., prescription opioid misuse, 41.2%) or alcohol (33.9%). Among those reporting an adverse effect, concomitant use of other drugs was common, particularly among users of LSD (56.5%), ketamine (56.3%), cocaine (55.7%), and ecstasy/MDMA/Molly (47.7%). Adverse effects resulting from synthetic cathinone ("bath salt") use were most likely to result in a hospital visit (57.1%).

CONCLUSION: Adverse effects from drug use are common among those in the EDM party scene and polydrug use appears to be a common risk factor. More research is needed, however, to determine the extent of event-specific adverse outcomes.

RESULTS can inform prevention and harm reduction efforts in this population.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0955-3959 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.07.005 ID - ref1 ER -