Context of Free Time Drug Consumption in the Czech Republic in 2003: Selected Results of Dance and Drugs Studies of 2000 and 2003
Abstract
The phenomenon of electronic dance music and associated recreational drug use in dance party environments appeared in the Czech Republic in the second half of the 1990s. Two questionnaire surveys were carried out among those attending dance parties in 2000 and 2003, and they aimed to increase knowledge about the extent, modes and contexts of drug use in the dance scene.
The article describes results of several parts of the Dance and Drugs 2003 questionnaire which aimed to find out data about connections of drug use in areas that are not typically covered in epidemiological prevalence surveys. Findings about levels of acceptability and attractiveness of individual drugs and perceived risk levels in connection with use of these drugs, and attitudes of those attending dance events towards associated risks and drugs monitored will be particularly beneficial to organizations dealing with drug prevention.
Sexual behaviour and driving behaviour in connection with drug use (including alcohol) were also monitored. Despite possible bias due to the data collection method applied, questionnaire surveys carried out in party environments and via the Internet have shown to be valuable sources of information about drug use in the dance scene, and they markedly facilitate detection of specifically Czech aspects of the world-wide phenomenon.