Environmental strategies for prevention of drug use and risks in clubs

Abstract

Environmental prevention strategies in club settings where music and dance events are featured could provide an important new arena for the prevention of drug use and other risky behaviours (e.g. sexual risk taking, intoxication and drug use, aggression, and driving under the influence). Electronic music dance events (EMDEs) occur in clubs that attract young, emerging adults (18–25 years of age) and attract individuals who engage in various types of drug use. Borrowing from the environmental prevention studies that focus on reducing alcohol use and related problems, a model for drug prevention in the club setting is proposed. Initially, an overview of the relationships between EMDEs and drug use, and other risky behaviours are presented. Next, rationales for environmental strategies are provided. Finally, an environmental approach to prevention of drug use and risky behaviours in clubs is described. This comprehensive set of environmental strategies, is designed to be mutually supportive and interactive. Environmental strategies are believed to provide potential for developing an efficacious prevention strategy. The environmental prevention approach presented here is composed of three intervention domains: (1) mobilization, (2) strategies for the exterior environment, and (3) strategies for the interior environment.

• Drugs
• prevention
• clubs

Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse grant ‘Prevention of Young Adult Drug Use in Club Settings’ (R01 DA018770‐01), 2005–2008, B. A. Miller and P. I., Kathy Etz, Program Official.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.