A new program developed by researchers at the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation demonstrates that Nightclub Safety Plans (NSPs) help keep drinkers safe.
For this study, a group-based mobile intervention at nightclubs called Nightlife Safety Plans was tested to determine whether risks related to overuse of alcohol and other drugs could be reduced within small groups attending clubs.
The brief, interactive intervention was delivered on tablets before club entry to 352 groups of young adults - 959 female and male participants at 41 events across 7 nightclubs. Breath tests were conducted when young adults entered and exited clubs, and oral fluid samples to test for drug use were collected at exit.
The results show that:
- NSP participation was related to increased protective actions among individuals to keep group members safe. No effects were found on actions to keep oneself safe or in response to overuse.
- Participants in NSP had a higher average number of group safety strategies compared to a control group.
- Participation in NSP was associated with lower blood alcohol concentration but unrelated to cannabis and cocaine.
Thus, NSP appears to be an effective way to increase use of protective strategies and reduced blood alcohol concentration among patrons of electronic music dance events.
Says lead author, Dr. Hilary Byrnes: "The findings of this research support the use of an intervention using group-based strategies in high risk setting such as nightclubs."
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Source: Byrnes, Hilary F., Brenda A. Miller, Beth Bourdeau, Mark B. Johnson, David B. Buller, Julia Berteletti, and Veronica A. Rogers. "Prevention of Alcohol and Other Drug Overuse Among Nightclub Patrons: A Randomized Trial of a Group-Based Mobile Intervention at Nightclubs." Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 80, no. 4 (2019): 423-430.
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Journal
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs