NCJ Number
219350
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2007 Pages: 425-444
Date Published
2007
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Using ethnographic methods over a 2-year period of fieldwork, data were collected on club-drug use and risk-taking among "Bridge and Tunnel" youth, which is the local term for youth who live in suburban neighborhoods surrounding New York City and "party" within the rave and club subcultures of Manhattan.
Abstract
The study found that within the club and rave subculture of Manhattan, many of the strategies for reducing potential harms from consuming drugs revolved around ecstasy. Strategies for managing the risks of the club drugs of ketamine, GHB, or crystal meth have not evolved to the same level as for ecstasy. Some of the risk management practices regularly used within club subcultures are regulated water consumption; "chilling out" (regular breaks from the hot dance floor for relaxation in a club location with lower temperature in order to maintain normal body temperature); moderation; avoidance of alcohol consumption; use of a social network; and pill testing in order to regulate dosage and linked drug effects. Another popular risk-management strategy involves "preloading" and "postloading." Under this strategy, ecstasy users consume other substances perceived to mitigate the negative effects of ecstasy use both before and after consuming the drug. These risk-management strategies have evolved within the club subculture based on research and testing by drug users and are passed on to new users. These findings suggest that the young adults of Manhattan's rave and club subculture are not responsive to prevention messages of total abstinence. Instead, they prefer information on harm-reduction, i.e., accurate and tested information on how to achieve the pleasurable effects of a drug while avoiding its harmful effects. The author conducted informal interviews about club subcultures and club drugs during participant-observation at clubs and raves where "Bridge and Tunnel" youth socialized. 4 notes and 23 references