Alcohol and Club Drug Use Among Same-Sex Attracted Young People: Associations With Frequenting the Lesbian and Gay Scene and Other Bars and Nightclubs

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether the lesbian and gay “scene” of bars and nightclubs is a more common site for club drug use than other bars and clubs. A cross-sectional, online survey was conducted with 254 same-sex attracted women and 318 men aged 18–25 in Sydney, Australia. Drug use was more likely in those who attended any venue type more frequently. Men, but not women, were more likely to report drug use in lesbian and gay venues than other venues. Club drug use may be more normalized within the lesbian and gay scene than elsewhere, particularly among young men. The study's limitations are noted.

RÉSUMÉ

Consommation d'alcool et de drogues « club » parmi les jeunes attirés par des personnes du même sexe: association avec le fait de fréquenter la scène gay et lesbienne ou les autres bars et boîtes de nuit

Cette étude visait à déterminer si l'utilisation de drogues « club » était plus fréquente sur la scène des bars et clubs gays et lesbiens que dans les autres bars et clubs. Une enquête transversale a été réalisée via Internet auprès de 254 femmes et 318 hommes de 18–25 ans vivant à Sydney, qui étaient tous attirés par des partenaires de même sexe. Seuls les hommes déclaraient avoir plus fréquemment utilisé des drogues dans des lieux gays et lesbiens. Il semble que l'usage de drogues « club » soit plus normalisé sur la scène gay et lesbienne, en particulier chez les jeunes hommes.

RESUMEN

Consumo de alcohol y drogas “club” entre jóvenes atraídos por personas de su mismo sexo: Asociaciones con frecuentar los lugares de ambiente gay y lésbico y otros bares y clubs nocturnos

Este estudio se dirige a determinar si los bares y clubs nocturnos de ambiente gay y lésbico son lugares más comunes para el consumo de drogas “club” en comparación con otros bares y clubs. Se llevó a cabo una encuesta de tipo transversal realizada a través de Internet en Sydney. Participaron 254 mujeres y 318 varones que se sentían atraídos por otras personas de su mismo sexo, de edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 25 años. El consumo de drogas era más probable entre aquellos que acudían con mayor frecuencia a cualquier tipo de local. Los varones, pero no las mujeres, tenían más probabilidades de informar haber consumido drogas en locales de ambiente gay y lésbico que en otros locales. El consumo de drogas “club” puede estar más normalizado en locales de ambiente gay y lésbico que en otros sitios, particularmente entre los varones jóvenes.

Keywords: :

• alcohol
• drugs
• gay
• lesbian
• young
• bars
• clubs
• hazardous drinking

THE AUTHORS

Toby Lea, Ph.D., is a Research Associate at the National Centre in HIV Social Research at the University of New South Wales, Australia. He was awarded his Ph.D. in 2011 for a thesis examining whether the notion of “post-gay” could be used to understand same-sex attracted young people's experiences with their sexuality, the lesbian and gay scene of bars and nightclubs, and alcohol and other drug use. He has worked in alcohol and other drug research since 2005.

Robert Reynolds, Ph.D., is an Associate Dean (Higher Degree Research) at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. He is the author of From Camp to Queer: Remaking the Australian (Melbourne University Press, 2002) and What Happened to Gay Life? (UNSW Press, 2007).

John de Wit, M.Sc., Ph.D., is a Professor and Director of the National Centre of HIV Social Research at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. He has a longstanding involvement in research in the field of HIV, STI, viral hepatitis, and sexual health that spans two decades. His work encompasses both applied and more basic social sciences research and he has been the principal and lead investigator on numerous research projects, including large-scale behavioral surveys and cohort studies, theory-based surveys and intervention studies, and in-depth qualitative research. His research is primarily concerned with contributing to a theory-based understanding of sexual and risk practices that inform effective programs and policies. He has published a large number of papers in peer-reviewed journals in disciplines as diverse as epidemiology, public health, health psychology, social psychology, sexuality, and HIV/AIDS. He also has contributed to several books and has coedited two books.