Club Drug Use Among Delinquent Youth

• NCJ Number: 210983
• Journal: Substance Use and Misuse Volume: 40 Issue: 9-10 Dated: 2005 Pages: 1363-1379
• Author(s): Christopher P. Krebs; Danielle M. Steffey
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 17 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1R03 DA14812
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Special Issue on Club Drug Epidemiology

Annotation

In an attempt to better understand the use and users of club drugs and aid in designing and implementing strategies to reduce the harm produced by these substances, this study presents epidemiological data on the use of club drugs by juvenile offenders in Oregon.

Abstract

In the last decade, the availability and use of club drugs has increased. Club drugs are so named due to the belief that they are used at all-night dance parties, called raves or in nightclubs. Some of the drugs are especially popular in certain parts of the country or among users with particular characteristics. This study generated epidemiologic data on the use and users of the various club drugs. Specifically, it analyzed club drug use and several other variables in an effort to identify factors that were associated with club drug use by a sample of juvenile offenders. Some of the variables of interest included demographics, family, education, housing, victimization, substance use, mental health, and a variety of risk behaviors. The data were analyzed in an attempt to determine whether the various substances were appropriately grouped. Data on the use and users of club drugs are presented which were generated by structured interviews with a sample of 119 drug-involved juvenile offenders in Eugene, OR. The findings suggest users of club drugs are substantially different from nonclub drug users. In general, club drug users appear to be older, less likely to be living in a home or an apartment, and more likely to have family members with a criminal history than nonusers. Users of club drugs are also more likely than their nonusing counterparts to have been a victim of violence, have used alcohol and other illicit drugs, and have taken part in a number of risk behaviors. Factors that were significantly and positively associated with club drug use include: age, the number of nonclub drug substances the youth reported having used, and an index of risk behaviors. References