Harm Reduction Strategies and Drug-Related Negative Consequences in the Dance Music Scene: The Moderating Role of Polysubstance Use

• Published in: Substance use & misuse 2021, Vol.56 (6), p.777-781
• Main Authors: Vera, Belén del Valle, Carmona-Marquez, José, Vidal-Giné, Claudio, Fernández-Calderón, Fermín
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Consequences; Dance; Dance clubs; Dance music; dance music scene; Drinking behavior; Drug abuse; drug-related negative consequences; Drugs; Harm reduction; harm reduction strategies; Internet; Latent class analysis; Multiple drugs; Music; Negative events; Polls & surveys; polysubstance use patterns; Severity; Simultaneous polysubstance use; Social classes; Stimulants; Strategies
• ISSN: 1082-6084; 1532-2491
• DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1892144

Although simultaneous polysubstance use (SPU) is associated with greater harms than concurrent polysubstance use (CPU), no previous research has examined the effectiveness of harm reduction strategies in reducing drug-related harms in people who use drugs simultaneously and whether these strategies have a differential impact on drug-related negative consequences according to SPU patterns. Objectives: to examine the relationship between SPU patterns, harm reduction strategies and drug-related consequences experienced among people who attend dance music settings, and to examine the moderating role of SPU patterns in the relationship between harm reduction strategies and drug-related negative consequences Methods: a web-based survey was used to gather data from 649 substance-using attendees at dance music settings (mean age = 26.2, 68% male). The survey collected data on: settings of last party attended, drug use, harm reduction strategies used and drug-related negative consequences experienced during last party attended. Results: Latent class analysis identified two SPU profiles: Moderate SPU and Severe SPU. Participants in the severe SPU class experienced more drug-related negative consequences at their last party in comparison with those in the moderate SPU class. Regardless of SPU pattern, avoiding binge drinking was related to fewer drug-related negative consequences, whilst avoiding mixing stimulants was related to fewer drug-related negative consequences only among those participants in the severe simultaneous polysubstance use class. Conclusions: These findings could help to inform the design of messages and tailored interventions aimed at minimizing drug-related negative consequences among people who use multiple substances in the dance music scene.