Trends and correlates of discordant reporting of drug use among nightclub/festival attendees, 2019–2022

Abstract

Introduction

People who attend nightclubs and festivals are known for high prevalence of party drug use, but more research is needed on underreporting in this population, in part because unintentional drug exposure through adulterated drug products is common. We examined the prevalence of drug use in this population, based both on self-reporting and on hair test results, with a focus on the detection of underreported use.

Methods

Adults entering nightclubs and festivals in New York City were asked about past-year drug use in 2019–2022 (n = 1,953), with 328 providing an analyzable hair sample for testing. We compared trends in self-reported drug use, drug positivity, and "corrected" prevalence, adjusting for unreported use, and delineated correlates of testing positive for ketamine and cocaine after not reporting use (discordant reporting).

Results

Of the 328 who provided a sample, cocaine and ketamine were the most frequently detected drugs (55.2% [n = 181] and 37.2% [n = 122], respectively), but these were also the two most underreported drugs, with 37.1% (n = 65) and 26.4% (n = 65), respectively, testing positive after not reporting use. Between 2019 and 2022, positivity decreased for cocaine, ketamine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-metamfetamine, and amfetamine, and underreported exposure to cocaine and ketamine also decreased (P < 0.05). Underreporting of the use of these drugs was common, but we also detected underreported exposure to ethylone, fentanyl, 3,4-methylenedioxyamfetamine, metamfetamine, and synthetic cannabinoids. Prevalence of discordant reporting of cocaine use was higher among those testing positive for ketamine exposure (adjusted prevalence ratio = 2.63; 95% CI: 1.48–4.69) and prevalence of discordant reporting of ketamine use was lower post-coronavirus disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (adjusted prevalence ratio = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.16–0.91) and among those reporting cocaine use (adjusted prevalence ratio = 0.53; 95% CI: 0.32–0.89).

Discussion

Underreporting of drug use was common, suggesting the need for researchers to better deduce intentional underreporting versus unknown drug exposure via adulterants.

Conclusions

Researchers should consider both self-report and toxicology results from biological samples when examining trends in use.

Keywords:

• Club drugs
• hair testing
• cocaine
• ecstasy
• ketamine

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R01DA044207, K01DA038800, and R01DA057289. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.