TWO-thirds of Friday night Manchester clubbers have taken one or more drugs that night according to new research.
The study by Lancaster University found experimentation with drugs was very high with almost all clubbers saying they had tried drugs at least once.
The report says there is an 'enduring relationship between club culture and ecstasy' but also a growing use of MDMA powder - a stronger form of ecstasy - and the hallucinogen ketamine.
Researchers spoke to 700 revellers across city centre venues - in three popular bar areas and five nightclubs.
They also found:
More than half of club-goers had taken ecstasy pills in the last month.
One in 20 people interviewed in bars had taken cocaine on the night they were interviewed.
Over two thirds of people in bars say they have taken illegal drugs at least once.
Ecstasy and cocaine are even more popular with clubbers and bar customers today than they were ten years ago.
Researchers spoke to people early in the evening with an average age of 25.
Dr Karenza Moore, a criminology lecturer at the university, said: "With weekend recreational multi-drug use rising, it seems that regulation and policing has done little to deter people from going out and taking drugs. Instead of preventing drug use, it just criminalises young adults."
While ecstasy and cocaine are popular club drugs - and cannabis is also used by the same people - hardly any clubbers had taken psychedelics such as LSD or used heroin or crack.
The study also found a large variation in drugs used from venue to venue.
Dr Fiona Measham, who has been studying drug and alcohol use for 20 years, said: "Drug choices are shaped by the type of music scene they identify with.
"For example we found that hard dance club-goers were the most experienced drug group, with over a quarter taking ketamine on their night out, while only three per cent of drum and bass club-goers took ketamine that night.
"This suggests we need to improve our understanding of the subtle patterns of drug taking in order to inform policy and shape education and harm reduction strategies."
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Two-thirds of Manchester clubbers take drugs
October 20, 2009
The report says there is an 'enduring relationship between club culture and ecstasy'
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Local lad, outsidethebox (20/10/2009 at 16:18)
MPs gravy train, UK (20/10/2009 at 16:24)
It may be 33 yrs but it will never be 37yrs. (20/10/2009 at 16:31)
Of Denton, Tameside (20/10/2009 at 16:48)
Is Dr Karenza Moore advocating drug use because it sounds to me like she is. These young people know that to be caught in possession of a controlled substance leads to particular punishments and that being in possession of drugs is illegal so to say "it just criminalises young adults" is a ridiculous thing to say 1) because not ALL young adults do drugs and 2) it only criminalises the criminals whom know that they will be punished for being in possession of drugs and therefore deserve everything they get!!
Having been subjected to the anti-social behaviour, weeing in the street, noise pollution and driving under the influence behaviour of so-called recreational drug users i can tell you 1) more drugs are used now than at any other time in our history as a nation, 2)That drugs should not be deemed as normal and acceptable as this Labour Government would have you believe and 3) that we need to stop handing out cautions and fines and start putting drug user, dealers, suppliers in prison for decades!
IF YOU CAN'T DO THE TIME DON'T COMMIT THE CRIME!!!
Brook Lands (20/10/2009 at 16:54)
I've used all the clubber drugs mentioned on here and the last thing you want to do is start a fight!
Alcohol is by FAR the most dangerous drug we currently have.
Plus MEN, your headline says two thirds of clubbers are on drugs every Friday night, then says that two thirds have admitted taking drugs during their lives. Which is it???
Angie33 , Manchester (20/10/2009 at 17:04)
Angie33 , Manchester (20/10/2009 at 17:07)
joanne card, manchester (20/10/2009 at 17:11)
ONLY TWO-THIRDS OF CLUBBERS WANT TO ADMIT TO BEING ON DRUGS.
get with it people there are clubs out there that would not be worth visiting if you weren't out of your mind.
The toilets is now a place for drug taking rather than it's traditional use.
The venue knows it, The promoter knows it, The security knows it, The police know it, The DJ knows it.
and all their jobs rely on it.
A certain well known manchester venue sells 6 x as much bottled water in its nightclub on fri and sat night, as it does in the restaurant/bar above during a whole week.......
I know it
Of Denton, Tameside (20/10/2009 at 17:24)
The notion that recreational drug users do not cause harm to society, do not commit antisocial bahaviour or crime and are sweet lovable little souls is C**P!!! Recreational drug users are just as bad, if not worse, than addicts and a healthy proportion of recreational drug users could and should be labelled as 'problematic drug users'.
It's time to get tough on drugs by putting recreational drug users behind bars so that us law abiding, gentle, productive members of society and our families don't have to be subjected to your C**p or as you would call it 'normal behaviour'.
Anybody doing drugs is clearly an immature moron whom has yet to grow out of the metality of 'look at me i'm doing something naughty and illegal aren't i hard' that most of us stopped having when we were eighteen!!
Esso Blue & R. Soul, Manchester (20/10/2009 at 17:27)
JandB (20/10/2009 at 17:34)
Rob Wilson (20/10/2009 at 18:17)
All this talk of 'lock them up and throw away the key'. What planet are you on? There isnt enough room in prisons to give violent and sex offenders adequate sentences, nevermind a casual drug user minding their own business in a night club! GET A GRIP!
Drew-Peacock, Our House (20/10/2009 at 18:29)
I have never come across any violent unless they are too drunk.
Black Flag (20/10/2009 at 18:43)
You've come out with this kind to nonsense before. Of course some recreational drug users commit anti-social behaviour or crime, as do some people who touch nothing but alcohol and as do some teetotallers.
Your anti-social, control freak mentality wants to see causality irrespective of whether or not it is there.
Rasputin II, >Forward Manchester> (20/10/2009 at 19:55)
citycentre, manchester (20/10/2009 at 20:03)
or
"More than half of club-goers had taken ecstasy pills in the last month"
So which is it 2/3 on the night in question or actually half in the last month? Seems to be some inconsistency here
Brook Lands (20/10/2009 at 20:13)
Of Denton
Dr Brook Lands would prescribe a dove and an eighth of black for this degenerate, would soon cool his heels.
salfordrat (20/10/2009 at 20:47)
Having been subjected to the anti-social behaviour, weeing in the street, noise pollution and driving under the influence behaviour of so-called recreational drug users i can tell you 1) more drugs are used now than at any other time in our history as a nation, 2)That drugs should not be deemed as normal and acceptable as this Labour Government would have you believe and 3) that we need to stop handing out cautions and fines and start putting drug user, dealers, suppliers in prison for decades!
IF YOU CAN'T DO THE TIME DON'T COMMIT THE CRIME!!!
Of Denton, Tameside
If it was a criminal offence to be ill informed to the point of lunacy, to be entirely idiotic and braindead, then this comment would be exhibit A in any trial that was to take place. Are you eighty years old? If so then your ignorance is at least understandable (if not forgivable as one is never too old to actually learn). You do not know the first thing about any kind of drug use whatsoever. You are posting fiction on a public board and you are really just making a fool of yourself. For gods sake!!! I can inderstand ignorance, I can understand how a person can be ill informed, but what I cannot tolerate is out right bigotry and idiocy when there is no need for it. I can't even write what I would like to so I am going to stop. You are completely out of touch with realisty is all iI can say. In fact, are you on drugs mate?
citycentre, manchester (20/10/2009 at 22:11)
FrostySnowman (20/10/2009 at 22:42)
It may be 33 yrs but it will never be 37yrs. (21/10/2009 at 01:37)
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1163926_jail_for_gang_who_tortured_teen_for_ransom
Drugs was found at the address of these criminals so don’t preach that drugs are non violent, people have killed for drugs. This is why the police have a hard time because of drug crazed clubbers.
Simon, Cheadle (21/10/2009 at 08:57)
I went to Pride in August and most people from Saturday night onwards had eyes like saucers and a blind eye is turned. If that event was raided they would have a field day, but it won't be will it.
As for people on drugs causing trouble well for 99.9% it is teh last thing on your mind. The one to watch out for in clubs were thoses staggering and spilling their pint everyjwere whilst all others were on water. Same going home to, it was 'don't go down Portland Street, don't go near the pubheads on Deansgate'. Basically you were that loved up you didn't want some kebab wielding warrior starting on you or just the general abuse and violence you would get from the drunks.
Happy days but we all grow out of it eventually.
Of Denton, Tameside (21/10/2009 at 09:25)
I will say this only once - EVERYTHING that i write is based on facts. If you had been subjected to what i and my family had been subjected to you would understand where i was coming from.
I am also giving serious consideration to standing as an independent MP in the next General Election because there was a complete breakdown in Government policy, Policing and the legal system and nobody should have to go through what we went through.
You do drugs if you want to (and then expect others to pay your increased NHS costs and psychiatric treatment), you take drugs and then get in a car and put other peoples lives at risk. BUT DO NOT expect me to agree with your criminal activity when as a law abiding citizen recreational drug users made my family's life, and the life of other neighbours, hell on earth!
Seemingly Ignored, Heald Green (21/10/2009 at 09:26)
"What I really dont understand is why anyone would care about someone else taking these drugs?"
You may as well also say "I really dont understand why anyone would care about someone else ....
... drink driving"
... assaulting children"
... carrying a weapon"
... getting blind drunk"
... illegally drawing benefits"
... fly tipping"
etc etc etc. No man is an island entire unto himself ...
Your self-centric, right on, please me and sod everybody else views are the cause of society falling apart.
thaitanium (21/10/2009 at 09:32)