Alcohol, Drug Use and Sexual Behaviour of Young Adults on a Mediterranean Dance Holiday

Abstract

Aim: To measure the extent of drug, sex and other health risks among a group of young people travelling from the UK on a foreign dance holiday. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 160 young people on a dance holiday compared with a crossectional sample of 90 young people at home. All respondents completed a quantitative questionnaire relating to their risk behaviours in the previous seven days. Qualitative interviews were also conducted whilst on holiday. Settings: Balearic Islands, (Spain), and a dance club in Scotland, (UK). Results: A significantly greater number of those on holiday reported using alcohol (91 %) and ecstasy (77 %), compared with 69 % and 63 % respectively of those at home. Approximately half of those who had sex with new partners whilst on holiday, and at home, used condoms. of those on holiday, 45 % reported sickness and diarrhoea compared with 23 % at home; 49 % of hol-idaymakers reported sunburn. Conclusions: As with other studies, this group of holidaymak-ers experienced increased levels of drug and alcohol related risks. However, contrary to other studies, sexual risk did not increase whilst on holiday. Nevertheless, when compared with other young travellers, this group appear to report higher levels of alcohol and drug use. illness, and sexual risk behaviour.

Key Words:

• Travel
• illicit drugs
• alcohol
• sexual behaviour