Club drugs

The use of illicit substances in large dance parties (“raves”) and nightclubs has become commonplace globally since the 1990s. Having now dispersed from rave sub-cultures, these drugs are available in college bars, house parties, and at concerts. Given this widespread availability, the “typical” club drug user is harder to classify than it had been in the 1990s. One large survey of New York City nightclub attendees attempted to characterize typical users: [1] 1,914 club-going adults aged 18–29 were sampled, of which 70% reported using club drugs at least once and 22% reported recent use. Men were more likely to abuse ketamine and GHB, while female gender was predictive of cocaine use. Gay/bisexual orientation and White race were predictive of use of several club drugs.