Drug Use Changes at the Individual Level: Results from a Longitudinal, Multisite Survey in Young Europeans Frequenting the Nightlife Scene

Meryem Grabski; Jon Waldron; Tom P. Freeman; Claire Mokrysz; Ruben J. J. Van Beek; Peggy Van Der Pol; Bert Hauspie; Nicky Dirkx; Jochen Schrooten; Tobias H. Elgán; Kristin Feltman; Elisa Benedetti; Gianpaolo Scalia Tomba; Francesco Fabi; Sabrina Molinaro; Johanna Gripenberg; Tina Van Havere; Margriet Van Laar; H. Valerie Curran

doi:10.1159/000520118

Drug Use Changes at the Individual Level: Results from a Longitudinal, Multisite Survey in Young Europeans Frequenting the Nightlife Scene

Meryem Grabski, Jon Waldron, Tom P. Freeman, Claire Mokrysz, Ruben J. J. Van Beek, Peggy Van Der Pol, Bert Hauspie, Nicky Dirkx, Jochen Schrooten, Tobias H. Elgán, Kristin Feltman, Elisa Benedetti, Gianpaolo Scalia Tomba, Francesco Fabi, Sabrina Molinaro, Johanna Gripenberg, Tina Van Havere, Margriet Van Laar, H. Valerie Curran

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

6 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Background: Monitoring emerging trends in the increasingly dynamic European drug market is vital; however, information on change at the individual level is scarce. In the current study, we investigated changes in drug use over 12 months in European nightlife attendees. Method: In this longitudinal online survey, changes in substances used, use frequency in continued users, and relative initiation of use at follow-up were assessed for 20 different substances. To take part, participants had to be aged 18-34 years; be from Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, or the UK; and have attended at least 6 electronic music events in the past 12 months at baseline. Of 8,045 volunteers at baseline, 2,897 completed the survey at both time points (36% follow-up rate), in 2017 and 2018. Results: The number of people using ketamine increased by 21% (p < 0.001), and logarithmized frequency of use in those continuing use increased by 15% (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.07-0.23). 4-Fluoroamphetamine use decreased by 27% (p < 0.001), and logarithmized frequency of use in continuing users decreased by 15% (p < 0.001, 95% CI: -0.48 to -0.23). The drugs with the greatest proportion of relative initiation at follow-up were synthetic cannabinoids (73%, N = 30), mephedrone (44%, N = 18), alkyl nitrites (42%, N = 147), synthetic dissociatives (41%, N = 15), and prescription opioids (40%, N = 48). Conclusions: In this European nightlife sample, ketamine was found to have the biggest increase in the past 12 months, which occurred alongside an increase in frequency of use in continuing users. The patterns of uptake and discontinuation of alkyl nitrates, novel psychoactive substances, and prescription opioids provide new information that has not been captured by existing cross-sectional surveys. These findings demonstrate the importance of longitudinal assessments of drug use and highlight the dynamic nature of the European drug landscape.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	155-160
Journal	European Addiction Research
Volume	28
Early online date	26 Nov 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1159/000520118
Publication status	Published - 31 Mar 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
ALAMA-nightlife is a collaborative project supported by the European Research Area Network on Illicit Drugs (ERANID). This study is based on independent research commissioned and funded in England by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme (project ref. PR-ST-0416-10003). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the national funding agencies or ERANID.

Funding

ALAMA-nightlife is a collaborative project supported by the European Research Area Network on Illicit Drugs (ERANID). This study is based on independent research commissioned and funded in England by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme (project ref. PR-ST-0416-10003). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the national funding agencies or ERANID.

Keywords

Drug use
Ketamine
Longitudinal online survey
Nightlife scene
Novel psychoactives
Prescription opioids

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Medicine (miscellaneous)
Health(social science)
Psychiatry and Mental health

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1159/000520118Licence: CC BY

Cite this

Grabski, M., Waldron, J., Freeman, T. P., Mokrysz, C., Van Beek, R. J. J., Van Der Pol, P., Hauspie, B., Dirkx, N., Schrooten, J., Elgán, T. H., Feltman, K., Benedetti, E., Scalia Tomba, G., Fabi, F., Molinaro, S., Gripenberg, J., Van Havere, T., Van Laar, M., & Curran, H. V. (2022). Drug Use Changes at the Individual Level: Results from a Longitudinal, Multisite Survey in Young Europeans Frequenting the Nightlife Scene. European Addiction Research, 28, 155-160. https://doi.org/10.1159/000520118

Grabski, M, Waldron, J, Freeman, TP, Mokrysz, C, Van Beek, RJJ, Van Der Pol, P, Hauspie, B, Dirkx, N, Schrooten, J, Elgán, TH, Feltman, K, Benedetti, E, Scalia Tomba, G, Fabi, F, Molinaro, S, Gripenberg, J, Van Havere, T, Van Laar, M & Curran, HV 2022, 'Drug Use Changes at the Individual Level: Results from a Longitudinal, Multisite Survey in Young Europeans Frequenting the Nightlife Scene', European Addiction Research, vol. 28, pp. 155-160. https://doi.org/10.1159/000520118

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title = "Drug Use Changes at the Individual Level: Results from a Longitudinal, Multisite Survey in Young Europeans Frequenting the Nightlife Scene",

abstract = "Background: Monitoring emerging trends in the increasingly dynamic European drug market is vital; however, information on change at the individual level is scarce. In the current study, we investigated changes in drug use over 12 months in European nightlife attendees. Method: In this longitudinal online survey, changes in substances used, use frequency in continued users, and relative initiation of use at follow-up were assessed for 20 different substances. To take part, participants had to be aged 18-34 years; be from Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, or the UK; and have attended at least 6 electronic music events in the past 12 months at baseline. Of 8,045 volunteers at baseline, 2,897 completed the survey at both time points (36\% follow-up rate), in 2017 and 2018. Results: The number of people using ketamine increased by 21\% (p < 0.001), and logarithmized frequency of use in those continuing use increased by 15\% (p < 0.001; 95\% CI: 0.07-0.23). 4-Fluoroamphetamine use decreased by 27\% (p < 0.001), and logarithmized frequency of use in continuing users decreased by 15\% (p < 0.001, 95\% CI: -0.48 to -0.23). The drugs with the greatest proportion of relative initiation at follow-up were synthetic cannabinoids (73\%, N = 30), mephedrone (44\%, N = 18), alkyl nitrites (42\%, N = 147), synthetic dissociatives (41\%, N = 15), and prescription opioids (40\%, N = 48). Conclusions: In this European nightlife sample, ketamine was found to have the biggest increase in the past 12 months, which occurred alongside an increase in frequency of use in continuing users. The patterns of uptake and discontinuation of alkyl nitrates, novel psychoactive substances, and prescription opioids provide new information that has not been captured by existing cross-sectional surveys. These findings demonstrate the importance of longitudinal assessments of drug use and highlight the dynamic nature of the European drug landscape.",

keywords = "Drug use, Ketamine, Longitudinal online survey, Nightlife scene, Novel psychoactives, Prescription opioids",

author = "Meryem Grabski and Jon Waldron and Freeman, \{Tom P.\} and Claire Mokrysz and \{Van Beek\}, \{Ruben J. J.\} and \{Van Der Pol\}, Peggy and Bert Hauspie and Nicky Dirkx and Jochen Schrooten and Elg{\'a}n, \{Tobias H.\} and Kristin Feltman and Elisa Benedetti and \{Scalia Tomba\}, Gianpaolo and Francesco Fabi and Sabrina Molinaro and Johanna Gripenberg and \{Van Havere\}, Tina and \{Van Laar\}, Margriet and Curran, \{H. Valerie\}",

note = "Funding Information: ALAMA-nightlife is a collaborative project supported by the European Research Area Network on Illicit Drugs (ERANID). This study is based on independent research commissioned and funded in England by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme (project ref. PR-ST-0416-10003). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the national funding agencies or ERANID. ",

year = "2022",

month = mar,

day = "31",

doi = "10.1159/000520118",

language = "English",

volume = "28",

pages = "155--160",

journal = "European Addiction Research",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Drug Use Changes at the Individual Level

T2 - Results from a Longitudinal, Multisite Survey in Young Europeans Frequenting the Nightlife Scene

AU - Grabski, Meryem

AU - Waldron, Jon

AU - Freeman, Tom P.

AU - Mokrysz, Claire

AU - Van Beek, Ruben J. J.

AU - Van Der Pol, Peggy

AU - Hauspie, Bert

AU - Dirkx, Nicky

AU - Schrooten, Jochen

AU - Elgán, Tobias H.

AU - Feltman, Kristin

AU - Benedetti, Elisa

AU - Scalia Tomba, Gianpaolo

AU - Fabi, Francesco

AU - Molinaro, Sabrina

AU - Gripenberg, Johanna

AU - Van Havere, Tina

AU - Van Laar, Margriet

AU - Curran, H. Valerie

N1 - Funding Information: ALAMA-nightlife is a collaborative project supported by the European Research Area Network on Illicit Drugs (ERANID). This study is based on independent research commissioned and funded in England by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Policy Research Programme (project ref. PR-ST-0416-10003). The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the national funding agencies or ERANID.

PY - 2022/3/31

Y1 - 2022/3/31

N2 - Background: Monitoring emerging trends in the increasingly dynamic European drug market is vital; however, information on change at the individual level is scarce. In the current study, we investigated changes in drug use over 12 months in European nightlife attendees. Method: In this longitudinal online survey, changes in substances used, use frequency in continued users, and relative initiation of use at follow-up were assessed for 20 different substances. To take part, participants had to be aged 18-34 years; be from Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, or the UK; and have attended at least 6 electronic music events in the past 12 months at baseline. Of 8,045 volunteers at baseline, 2,897 completed the survey at both time points (36% follow-up rate), in 2017 and 2018. Results: The number of people using ketamine increased by 21% (p < 0.001), and logarithmized frequency of use in those continuing use increased by 15% (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.07-0.23). 4-Fluoroamphetamine use decreased by 27% (p < 0.001), and logarithmized frequency of use in continuing users decreased by 15% (p < 0.001, 95% CI: -0.48 to -0.23). The drugs with the greatest proportion of relative initiation at follow-up were synthetic cannabinoids (73%, N = 30), mephedrone (44%, N = 18), alkyl nitrites (42%, N = 147), synthetic dissociatives (41%, N = 15), and prescription opioids (40%, N = 48). Conclusions: In this European nightlife sample, ketamine was found to have the biggest increase in the past 12 months, which occurred alongside an increase in frequency of use in continuing users. The patterns of uptake and discontinuation of alkyl nitrates, novel psychoactive substances, and prescription opioids provide new information that has not been captured by existing cross-sectional surveys. These findings demonstrate the importance of longitudinal assessments of drug use and highlight the dynamic nature of the European drug landscape.

AB - Background: Monitoring emerging trends in the increasingly dynamic European drug market is vital; however, information on change at the individual level is scarce. In the current study, we investigated changes in drug use over 12 months in European nightlife attendees. Method: In this longitudinal online survey, changes in substances used, use frequency in continued users, and relative initiation of use at follow-up were assessed for 20 different substances. To take part, participants had to be aged 18-34 years; be from Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, or the UK; and have attended at least 6 electronic music events in the past 12 months at baseline. Of 8,045 volunteers at baseline, 2,897 completed the survey at both time points (36% follow-up rate), in 2017 and 2018. Results: The number of people using ketamine increased by 21% (p < 0.001), and logarithmized frequency of use in those continuing use increased by 15% (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.07-0.23). 4-Fluoroamphetamine use decreased by 27% (p < 0.001), and logarithmized frequency of use in continuing users decreased by 15% (p < 0.001, 95% CI: -0.48 to -0.23). The drugs with the greatest proportion of relative initiation at follow-up were synthetic cannabinoids (73%, N = 30), mephedrone (44%, N = 18), alkyl nitrites (42%, N = 147), synthetic dissociatives (41%, N = 15), and prescription opioids (40%, N = 48). Conclusions: In this European nightlife sample, ketamine was found to have the biggest increase in the past 12 months, which occurred alongside an increase in frequency of use in continuing users. The patterns of uptake and discontinuation of alkyl nitrates, novel psychoactive substances, and prescription opioids provide new information that has not been captured by existing cross-sectional surveys. These findings demonstrate the importance of longitudinal assessments of drug use and highlight the dynamic nature of the European drug landscape.

KW - Drug use

KW - Ketamine

KW - Longitudinal online survey

KW - Nightlife scene

KW - Novel psychoactives

KW - Prescription opioids

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U2 - 10.1159/000520118

DO - 10.1159/000520118

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85120631502

SN - 1022-6877

VL - 28

SP - 155

EP - 160

JO - European Addiction Research

JF - European Addiction Research

ER -

Drug Use Changes at the Individual Level: Results from a Longitudinal, Multisite Survey in Young Europeans Frequenting the Nightlife Scene

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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