Drug Use Survey Data
as presented to SACENDU
16th October 2002
1) IntroductionThe following survey data was collected by RaveSafe volunteers at a outdoor rave in Boksburg on the 29th September 2002 (H20). Responses were unsolicited, however the candidates were encouraged to complete surveys by means of a competition for a prize of tickets to a big concert (Jamiroquai). This was advertised on posters around the venue. Therefore it felt that a good sample was drawn, including some people who used no intoxicants at all.
2) Demographics
Sample number: n = 54
Gender breakdown: 30 Males, 24 Females
Average age: 21.83, youngest 17, oldest 43
Education profile (current or complete):
High School 20 Technical College 19 Trade 2 University 11 Post Graduate 2 Table 1: Education Profile
2) Drug Use Patterns
Candidates were ask to complete a table which indicated which drugs have and are being used and how often. The following table shows the Drug Use Patterns found, ranked by overall popularity. The numbers are percentages of the total indicated. Please note these numbers do not imply current use, the subjects were asked if they had ever used any of these drugs, and in many cases they are no longer used.
Total % Daily Weekly Monthly Occasionally Once only Cannabis 91
19 20 6 39 7 Alcohol 89
15 41 7 26 0 MDMA 85
0 15 30 41 0 LSD 70
0 2 11 44 13 Nicotine 69
54 6 2 6 2 Poppers 65
0 2 9 37 17 Mushrooms 44
0 2 11 22 9 Diet Pills 43
7 6 6 11 13 Ephedrine 41
0 4 0 22 15 Cocaine 35
0 4 0 13 19 Speed 26
0 2 2 11 11 GHB 22
0 2 4 4 13 Ketamine 22
0 7 2 9 4 Khat 17
0 6 0 7 4 Mandrax 15
0 0 0 6 9 Ritalin 9
2 2 2 2 2 Crack 7
4 0 0 2 2 Herion 7
2 0 0 2 4 Steriods 6
0 2 0 2 2 Rohypnol 4
0 2 0 2 0 Wellconal 4
2 0 0 2 0 2CB 0
0 0 0 0 0
Table 2: 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.
Weight loss 21
Mood swings 20
More outgoing and sociable 18
Insomnia 17
More relaxed 16
Loss of appetite 16
Tiredness / fatigue 15
More positive towards life 14
Depression 13
Emotional Instability 12
Increased creativity 12
Decrease in physical health 12
More tolerant / open minded 11
Spiritual growth 10
Low Motivation / Lethargy 9
Nightmares 8
Personality shift / change 7
Increased empathy 5
Lowered immune system 5
Flashbacks 5
Negative effect on studies 5
Vulnerabilty 5
Shyness / withdrawn 5
Reduced libido 4
Black outs 3
Decreased creativity 3
Epileptic seizures 1
Table3: Long Term Side Effects
4) Got a Drug Problem?Respondents were asked if they consider their drug use to be a problem. The answers were as follows:
% of total answered Yes 11.3 % No 88.7 % Table 3: Drug Problem Perceptions
5) Discussion / Conclusion.
- Given the dearth of big raves this year, it was of particular interest to look for changes in drug use. Previously MDMA has ranked as the #1 drug, however in this survey it shows that cannabis is widely used now with the usual dispersion of regularity. The rest of Table 2 does not differ much from previous surveys. Note the frequency of use of Nicotine, Crack, and Wellconal.
-Besides the shortage of LSD (and its doubling in price), it is still widely used. There are alternatives in use, more research on this is needed.
-We have been worried about the proliferation of Khat (in its synthetic powder form) however it has not risen in the table despite verbal accounts of its increased use. This might be because use could be more prominent in a different context (i.e. downtown clubs), and not at a big outdoor day time rave which attracts a different crowd.
-Essentially we felt there is no big change in usage patterns and our information strategy should remain the same.
Prepared and presented by Bruce Gillespie. 16th October 2002
Thanks to the MilkyWay Internet Cafe for sponsoring the Jamiroquai tickets and to all who helped collect the data. Also thanks to the Medical Research Council for the invitation to the meeting.
Disclaimer This Guide is provided for informational purposes ONLY. RaveSafe, it's volunteers and its sponsors do not condone or advocate the use of illegal substances. RaveSafe accepts NO responsibility for the way the information in this used, nor for any harm that might occur from the use of the information contained in this document. Although a concerted effort has been made to ensure the validity of the information contained in this document, no guarantees or assurances of accuracy are provided by anyone. Read and act at your own risk.
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Last updated 10/17/2002