Illegal substance use among 1,309 music festival attendees: An investigation using oral fluid sample drug tests, breathalysers and questionnaires

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 400-407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linn Gjersing ◽  
Anne Line Bretteville-Jensen ◽  
Håvard Furuhaugen ◽  
Hallvard Gjerde
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Oral Fluid ◽  
Alcohol Intoxication ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Dance Music ◽  
Electronic Dance Music ◽  
Music Festivals ◽  
Concentration Levels

Aims: Illegal substance use at music festivals is less documented than it is in nightlife and electronic dance music settings. This study investigated such use through questionnaires, breathalysers and oral fluid drug testing. We also examined the associations between testing positive for illegal substances and demographics, self-reported substance use and measured blood alcohol concentration levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1,309 festival attendees from six Norwegian music festivals taking place between July and August 2016. Logistic regression models estimated the likelihood of a positive oral fluid drug test. Covariates were male, age, education, employment, smoking status, early age for alcohol intoxication, alcohol intoxication ⩾2 times a week, past-month and past-year illegal substance use, blood alcohol concentration levels and festivals. Results: Overall, 12% reported illegal substance use in the past 30 days and 11% tested positive for illegal substances. Cannabis (6%), cocaine (3%) and MDMA/ecstasy (2%) were most commonly detected. One-third had a blood alcohol concentration ⩾0.10%. Of those with a positive test result ( n=146), 95% had detectable alcohol levels and 41% had a blood alcohol concentration above 0.10%. Those studying or working part-time were less likely to test positive compared to those who were not employed. Furthermore, those reporting daily smoking and past-year cannabis or MDMA/ecstasy use were more likely to test positive, compared to those not reporting such use. Conclusions: Illegal substance use was less prevalent than in previous nightlife and electronic dance music studies. Almost all those testing positive for illegal substances had detectable alcohol levels and 41% had a blood alcohol concentration greater than 0.10%, possibly indicating combined use.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in the Presence and Severity of Alcohol Hangover Symptoms

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 867 ◽  
Author(s):  
van Lawick van Pabst ◽  
Devenney ◽  
Verster
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Alcohol Intoxication ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Small Magnitude ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Alcohol Hangover ◽  
Peak Blood ◽  
Drinking Occasion

Studies have demonstrated significant sex differences in alcohol intoxication effects. In contrast, the majority of studies on the alcohol hangover phase did not investigate sex differences. Therefore, the current study examined possible sex differences in the presence and severity of alcohol hangover symptoms. Data from n = 2446 Dutch students (male = 50.7%, female = 49.3%) were analyzed. They reported the presence and severity of 22 hangover symptoms experienced after their past month heaviest drinking occasion. Subjects were categorized according to their estimated peak blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) and presence and severity of the hangover symptoms were compared between men and women. In the lowest eBAC group (0% ≤ eBAC < 0.08%), no significant sex differences were found. In the subsequent eBAC group (0.08% ≤ eBAC < 0.11%), severity of nausea was significantly higher in women than in men. In the third eBAC group (0.11% ≤ eBAC < 0.2%), women reported higher severity scores on nausea, tiredness, weakness, and dizziness than men. Men reported the presence of confusion significantly more often than women, and women reported the presence of shivering significantly more often than men. In the fourth eBAC group (0.2% ≤ eBAC < 0.3%), women reported higher severity scores on nausea and tiredness than men. In the highest eBAC group (0.3% ≤ eBAC < 0.4%), no significant sex differences were found. In conclusion, across the eBAC groups, severity scores of nausea and tiredness were higher in women than in men. However, albeit statistically significant, the observed sex differences in presence and severity of hangover symptoms were of small magnitude, and therefore, have little clinical relevance.

scholarly journals Does Medical Presence Decrease the Perceived Risk of Substance-Related Harm at Music Festivals?

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s123-s123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Brendan Munn ◽  
Melissa Sydney White ◽  
Alison Hutton ◽  
Sheila Turris ◽  
Haddon Tabb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Dance Music ◽  
Electronic Dance Music ◽  
Music Festivals ◽  
Music Festival ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Intent To Use ◽  
Initial Hypothesis

Introduction:The use of recreational substances is a contributor to the risk of morbidity and mortality at music festivals. One of the aims of onsite medical services is to mitigate substance-related harms. It is known that attendees’ perceptions of risk can shape their planned substance use; however, it is unclear how attendees perceive the presence of onsite medical services in evaluating the risk associated with substance use at music festivals.Methods:A questionnaire was administered to a random sample of attendees entering a multi-day electronic dance music festival.Results:There were 630 attendees approached and 587 attendees completed the 19 item questionnaire. Many confirmed their intent to use alcohol (48%, n=280), cannabis (78%, n=453), and recreational substances other than alcohol and cannabis (93%, n=541) while attending the festival. The majority (60%, n=343) stated they would still have attended the event if there were no onsite medical services available. Some attendees agreed that the absence of medical services would have reduced their intended use of alcohol (30%, n=174) and recreational substances other than alcohol and cannabis (46%, n=266).Discussion:In the context of a music festival, plans for recreational substance use appear to be substantially altered by attendees’ knowledge about the presence or absence of onsite medical services. This contradicts our initial hypothesis that medical services are independent of planned substance use and serve solely to reduce any associated harms. Additional exploration and characterization of this phenomenon at various events would further clarify the understanding of perceived risks surrounding substance use and the presence of onsite medical services.

scholarly journals Prevalence of substance use among trauma patients treated in a Brazilian emergency room

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Diehl Reis ◽  
Neliana Buzi Figlie ◽  
Ronaldo Laranjeira
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Emergency Room ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
World Health ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Emergency Rooms ◽  
Cross Sectional

OBJECTIVE: Although there is a considerable amount of data in the literature regarding the association between alcohol consumption and injuries treated in emergency rooms, little is known about the relationship between such injury and the use of other substances. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of substance use in patients admitted to the emergency room for non-fatal injuries. METHOD: A prospective cross-sectional study assessing all patients admitted to the emergency room within 6 hours after a non-fatal injury was conducted over a three-month period. The following were used as measures of alcohol and drug use: a standardized World Health Organization questionnaire; a self-administered questionnaire related to drug consumption within the 24 hours preceding contact; the Drug Abuse Screening Test; urine screens for cannabis, cocaine and benzodiazepines; and determination of blood alcohol concentration. Descriptive analyses were performed and the confidence interval used was 95%. RESULTS: A total of 353 patients were included. Cannabis and cocaine screens were conducted for 242 patients and benzodiazepine screens were conducted for 166. Blood alcohol concentrations reached the level of positivity in 11% (n = 39), and 10% (n = 33) presented some degree of intoxication. Among the 242 patients screened, 13.6% (n = 33) tested positive for cannabis, and 3.3% (n = 8) tested positive for cocaine, whereas 4.2% (n = 7) of the 166 patients screened tested positive for benzodiazepines. CONCLUSIONS: Substance use was highly prevalent among these individuals. In this sample, the frequency for the use of cannabis (an illicit drug) was comparable to that of alcohol. More studies are needed in order to characterize such use among Brazilians and to develop proper approaches to such cases, with the aim of reducing substance use and its consequences.

Auto-brewery syndrome: Ethanol pseudo-toxicity in diabetic and hepatic patients

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 445-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
EM Hafez ◽  
MA Hamad ◽  
M Fouad ◽  
A Abdel-Lateff
Keyword(s):  
Ethanol Production ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Alcohol Intoxication ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Carbohydrate Ingestion ◽  
Headspace Gas

Endogenous alcohol has been applied for spontaneous ethanol production via different metabolic pathways of the human body. Auto-brewery syndrome describes the patients with alcohol intoxication after ingesting carbohydrate-rich meals. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM), liver cirrhosis (LC) and presence of both (DM and LC) on blood alcohol concentration (BAC) especially after carbohydrate ingestion. BAC has been measured by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in three groups of humans namely control, DM, LC and both (DM and LC) groups. The results showed that BAC in control group was 0.01–.3 mg/dL with mean 0.3 ± 0.41 mg/dL. In patients with DM, BAC is significantly higher than that of control group 4.85 ± 3.96 mg/dL. In patients with LC, BAC was 3.45 ± 2.65 mg/dL. In patients with both DM and LC, BAC increases to reach 10.88 ± 5.36 mg/dL. Endogenous ethanol production appears to increase in DM and LC. Also, it increased much more in patients with both diseases, but it did not reach toxic levels. On comparing BAC and blood glucose level in each group, all groups show insignificant correlations ( p > 0.05).

Characteristics of individuals who use alcohol at the time of attempting suicide

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. s273-s273
Author(s):  
D.U. Jung ◽  
S.J. Kim ◽  
J.S. Lim ◽  
B.G. Kong ◽  
J.W. Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Apache Ii ◽  
Apache Ii Score ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Medical Outcomes ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics ◽  
Concentration Levels

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of individuals who used alcohol at the time of attempting suicide.MethodsWe divided 143 individuals who attempted suicide by consuming drugs into two groups on the basis of their blood alcohol concentration level: drinker group (n = 79) and non-drinker group (n = 64). We compared epidemiological characteristics and suicidal behavior between the groups by using the Suicidal Intent Scale (SIS) and the Risk Rescue Rating Scale (RRRS). In addition, we administered the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation–II (APACHE–II) to evaluate the medical lethality of the individuals who attempted suicide. We used Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression to analyze the data.ResultsThe drinker group scored lower on the SIS's planning subscale than the non-drinker group did (P = 0.022). The drinker group's blood alcohol concentration levels were negatively correlated with the rescue potential of their suicidal attempt (P = 0.031) and the APACHE-II score (P = 0.003). Higher blood alcohol concentration levels predicted poorer medical outcomes measured by the APACHE-II (P = 0.004).ConclusionOur findings support the notion that alcohol use increases suicidal impulsivity, decreases rescue potential, and worsens medical outcomes. Therefore, suicide prevention programs need to include education and counselling about the risks associated with alcohol use.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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