TY - JOUR

T1 - The role of an international nightlife resort in the proliferation of recreational drugs

AU - Bellis, Mark A

AU - Hughes, Karen

AU - Bennett, Andrew

AU - Thomson, Roderick

PY - 2003/12

Y1 - 2003/12

N2 - AIMS: The study compares types, frequencies and quantities of substances used by young people while holidaying in the international dance resort of Ibiza (Spain) with their patterns of use in the United Kingdom. It measures changes in substance use at both locations between 1999 and 2002 and examines the role of dance resorts in recruiting individuals into using new substances.DESIGN: Data were collected from visitors to Ibiza in 1999 (n = 846) and 2002 (n = 868). Information on drug use was surveyed through a short anonymous questionnaire.SETTING: Individuals were sampled at Ibiza airport just prior to returning to the UK.FINDINGS: Most individuals visiting Ibiza used illicit drugs in the United Kingdom (57.4% in 2002), with nearly all users continuing to use in Ibiza. Use of most drugs in Ibiza was characterized by binge behaviour, with many individuals using drugs 5 or more nights per week. Proportions using cocaine, ecstasy and GHB have risen significantly (1999-2002) in both locations, as have numbers of ecstasy tablets taken on a usual night. Substance use was associated positively with number of previous visits to Ibiza and new users were recruited into use while abroad (17.4 and 33.1 per 1000 people were introduced to cocaine and ecstasy use, respectively, in Ibiza).CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of international nightlife resorts increasingly links drug use abroad with that in individuals' countries of origin. Our results indicate that resorts such as Ibiza offer tourists the opportunity to increase levels of drug consumption and try different substances in an atmosphere conducive to experimentation. Patterns of recreational drug use in leading international resorts may help predict developments in drug use elsewhere and as such be an important tool in planning appropriate interventions.

AB - AIMS: The study compares types, frequencies and quantities of substances used by young people while holidaying in the international dance resort of Ibiza (Spain) with their patterns of use in the United Kingdom. It measures changes in substance use at both locations between 1999 and 2002 and examines the role of dance resorts in recruiting individuals into using new substances.DESIGN: Data were collected from visitors to Ibiza in 1999 (n = 846) and 2002 (n = 868). Information on drug use was surveyed through a short anonymous questionnaire.SETTING: Individuals were sampled at Ibiza airport just prior to returning to the UK.FINDINGS: Most individuals visiting Ibiza used illicit drugs in the United Kingdom (57.4% in 2002), with nearly all users continuing to use in Ibiza. Use of most drugs in Ibiza was characterized by binge behaviour, with many individuals using drugs 5 or more nights per week. Proportions using cocaine, ecstasy and GHB have risen significantly (1999-2002) in both locations, as have numbers of ecstasy tablets taken on a usual night. Substance use was associated positively with number of previous visits to Ibiza and new users were recruited into use while abroad (17.4 and 33.1 per 1000 people were introduced to cocaine and ecstasy use, respectively, in Ibiza).CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of international nightlife resorts increasingly links drug use abroad with that in individuals' countries of origin. Our results indicate that resorts such as Ibiza offer tourists the opportunity to increase levels of drug consumption and try different substances in an atmosphere conducive to experimentation. Patterns of recreational drug use in leading international resorts may help predict developments in drug use elsewhere and as such be an important tool in planning appropriate interventions.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Alcohol Drinking

KW - Cocaine-Related Disorders

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Female

KW - Hallucinogens

KW - Holidays

KW - Humans

KW - Lysergic Acid Diethylamide

KW - Male

KW - N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine

KW - Spain

KW - Street Drugs

KW - Substance-Related Disorders

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Transients and Migrants

KW - United Kingdom

KW - Comparative Study

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2003.00554.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2003.00554.x

M3 - Article

C2 - 14651503

VL - 98

SP - 1713

EP - 1721

JO - Addiction

JF - Addiction

SN - 0965-2140

IS - 12

ER -