People have been using drugs in social rituals since the dawn of history; the only change is in the type of drug, the route of delivery, and the social context. This study reviews three drugs known as “club drugs,” that are used by youths to enhance their party experiences. Two of them, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/ecstasy) and ketamine are widely at raves, or all-night dance parties. Salvia divinorum is a new social drug that found its way into college campuses through the Internet.
Keywords: ecstasy, ketamine, Salvia divinorum
The Rave-EDM Scene and Solidarity
Kavanaugh analyzed the impact of ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine/MDMA) on solidarity within the context of a rave-EDM scene (Inciardi & McElrath, 2009). Kavanaugh found that while the use of ecstasy induced solidarity at rave events, the interactions between drug use and social interactions were rather complex. For example, although the physiological effect of the drug was short and intense, its social effects were enduring. The general feeling induced by the use of ecstasy within a large group setting was that of connection to a large community, a sense of solidarity. Furthermore, as the feeling of solidarity intensified, the use of ecstasy became less important with time. Most users reported using the drug to enhance the social experience, not for the effects of the drug itself. What mattered most was the commitment the members of the group developed towards each other and to the rave scene. One interesting and novel finding was that with time, the use of ecstasy eroded solidarity and induced a feeling of detachment, partly due to a perception of manipulation or victimization. Kavanaugh also discovered that as the rave scene moved from an unstructured impromptu environment to a more structured setting, the composition and dynamics of groups also changed, with a rise in the average age and social status of the EDM raver. The effect of this was a fragmentation of solidarity.
The High-risk Ketamine Street Scene
Lankenau and Clatts evaluated ketamine, a synthetic drug popular among high-risk youth (Inciardi & McElrath, 2009). Ketamine is a hallucinogenic that induces sedation and dissociation. Normally, the drug is sniffed, but this study focused on juveniles who inject ketamine. Lankenau and Clatts interviewed 25 young (median age, 17) at-risk males in New York city and found that ketamine differs from other injectable drugs in the route of delivery; intramuscular, rather than intravenous. The drug was also injected within large groups, multiple injections were common, and many users had free access to the drug. The highest risk associated with ketamine use was not from the direct pharmacological effect of the drug but rather from the mechanics of drug delivery, which places the drug user at increased risk of blood-borne infections, including HIV, HBV, and HCV. One other feature of this drug is that the majority of users (56%) had already experimented with other injectable drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamines. The main attraction of this drug was what they referred to as a “fall into” a “k-hole,” to describe the intense psychological and physical effects experienced under the drug—a brief onset of energy followed by physical immobility and detachment. There was a wide variation in the frequency of ketamine use, with 20% of the youths reporting having used it only once during the past year, whereas others reported having inject it over 100 times during the same time period. The authors also investigated the association of ketamine use with the club scene and found that while the drug is commonly used within a social setting, only 16% of users reported having used it during raves, and then, mostly at outdoors raves. The majority (36%) injected the drug in the street or park, or at home (32%). Thus, the association of this drug with the club scene was incidental.
The Salvia Divinorum College Scene
Khey, Miller, and Griffin evaluated the use of Salvia divinorum among college students (Inciardi & McElrath, 2009). Salvia divinorum is a hallucinogenic drug native to Mexico that is used by Mazatecan shamans in their rituals. However, the shaman use it in prepared infusions while recreational drug users smoke it; used this way, the high is intense but short-lived. The authors conducted a survey to determine what college students knew about this relatively new drug, where they had learned about it, and its prevalence of use. Most students (n=154, 81.9%) had learned about Salvia from their friends, a few in class (n=9, 4.8%), and only 5 (2.7%) from the Internet, although the widely held belief is that most students learn about the drug through the Internet. Their study also found that Salvia divinorum is predominantly used among white, affluent males (65%). In addition, like ketamine, less than half the users purchased the drug themselves, and it too was used in a group social setting. Those who purchased the drug got it from head shops (77%). The drug experience was given a rating of 5.83 on a Likert-type scale of 1-10, and chronic use was not prevalent. Of interest, 51% of students reported that they would not use the drug again, with only 17% saying they would try it again. Furthermore, there was a strong association between Salvia divinorum and regular marijuana use, suggesting that preventive measure against the use of marijuana may also work against this drug.
References
Inciardi J., & McElrath K. (2009). The American Drug Scene: An Anthology. New York:
Oxford University Press.
