Survey Data - June to October 2001

 

The following survey data was collected by RaveSafe volunteers at the three big raves in Johannesburg during the period June to October 2001. Responses were unsolicited, except that filling in a Survey Form was encouraged by a competition for a prize of tickets to a rave.

 

1) Demographics

Sample number: n = 126

Gender breakdown: 82 Males, 44 Females

Average age: 23.3 years, youngest 16, oldest 44

Education profile (current or complete):

High School	45
Technical College	30
Trade	10
University	29
Post Graduate	11

 

2) Drug Usage

The following table shows the Drug Use patterns found, ranked by overall popularity. The numbers are percentages of the total. Note these numbers do not imply current use, the subjects were asked if they had ever used any of these drugs.

%	Total	Daily	Weekly	Monthly	Occasionally	Once only
MDMA	94.4	1.6	23.0	21.4	46.8	1.6
LSD	71.4	1.6	10.3	7.9	35.7	15.9
Cannabis	62.7	11.1	14.3	4.8	28.6	4.0
Poppers	43.7	0.8	4.0	3.2	27.8	7.9
Nicotine	41.3	31.7	3.2	0.0	5.6	0.8
Diet Pills	38.9	5.6	3.2	7.9	16.7	5.6
Ephedrine	34.1	0.8	4.8	3.2	19.0	6.3
Mushrooms	34.1	0.8	1.6	1.6	20.6	9.5
Cocaine	30.2	0.8	3.2	0.8	13.5	11.9
Speed	28.6	0.8	4.8	2.4	14.3	6.3
GHB	15.1	0.0	3.2	2.4	6.3	3.2
Crack	12.7	1.6	0.8	0.0	4.0	6.3
Khat	12.7	1.6	2.4	0.8	3.2	4.8
Ketamine	9.5	0.0	0.8	0.8	3.2	4.8
Mandrax	7.9	0.0	1.6	0.8	0.8	4.8
Rohypnol	7.1	0.0	0.8	0.0	4.0	2.4
2CB	5.6	0.0	0.0	1.6	1.6	2.4
Herion	4.8	0.0	0.8	0.0	1.6	2.4
Ritalin	4.8	1.6	0.0	0.0	1.6	1.6
Steriods	3.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.8	2.4
Wellconal	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Table 1. Drug Use Matrix

 

3) Long Term Side Effects

Subjects were asked to indicate the long term effects of their drug use, using a multiple choice list. This was based on the most popular answers we have received in past surveys. These are presented here, the number being the quantity that item was selected overall in the survey

More outgoing and sociable	47
More tolerant / open minded	46
More relaxed	40
More positive towards life	35
Weight loss	35
Emotional Instability	32
Increased creativity	32
Loss of appetite	31
Mood swings	31
Depression	28
Low Motivation / Lethargy	27
Increased empathy	27
Personality shift / change	24
Tiredness / fatigue	22
Lowered immune system	22
Flashbacks	21
Spiritual growth	21
Insomnia	19
Decrease in physical health	19
Negative effect on studies	17
Vulnerability	10
Reduced libido	7
Nightmares	7
Shyness / withdrawn	5
Black outs	4
Decreased creativity	2
Epileptic seizures	1

4) Usage Problem Perception

Respondents were asked if they consider their drug use to be a problem. The percentages of total persons answered:

Yes	7.5%
No	92.5%

 

5) Discussion

a) Few changes since last report in April 2001, with the exception of (synthetic) Khat which is becoming more widely used as an alternative to MDMA. There is a notion that it is safer, although dependency and psychosis problems are being reported.

b) Cocaine use has dropped slightly.

c) GHB use not affected by Listing / Banning last year.

d) A number of respondents have stopped using MDMA, with concerns over quality and long term neurotoxicity growing (although situation is not entirely clear). Information on this has been compiled and distributed.

e) Quality Control of MDMA remains a serious issue, although bulking agents used seem inert. RaveSafe has been promoting awareness of Marquis-reagent based testing by way of printed media and information of web site ("E Testing FAQ"). We are receiving many requests for a pill testing service at raves.

f) Very few serious problems have been encountered at the raves and clubs we have been present at, with most users seemingly educated as to heat, dehydration and dosage risks.

 

Prepared and presented by Bruce Gillespie. 11th October 2001

Many thanks to the volunteers who helped collect this data.

SACENDU Web Site: www.mrc.ac.za/urban/sacendu.htm