Preloading with drugs before entry to the nighttime entertainment district: presentation, intoxication rates, and effects of police presence during assessment.

BACKGROUND: Past research has either focused on alcohol or drug preloading before a night out, but not on the interaction between them. With increased risks of harm through interaction effects, we wished to build upon previous research in this area. We sought to determine who drug preloads, why do people engage in this practice, what drug/s are people using, and how inebriated they are as they enter the NED. Additionally, we examined what impact varying levels of police presence has on the collections of sensitive data in this context. METHODS: We captured estimates of drug and alcohol preloading from 4723 people entering nighttime entertainment districts (NEDs) in Queensland, Australia. Data collection occurred under three varying conditions of police presence (i.e., no police present, police present but not engaging with participants, and police engaging with participants). RESULTS: People who admitted to preloading drugs were found to be younger in age than non-drug admitters, more likely to be male than female, use one type of drug (mostly stimulants) rather than multiple (if we exclude alcohol), significantly more intoxicated upon arrival, and more subjectively affected from their use of alcohol and drugs as Breath Approximated Alcohol Concertation levels increased. People were more likely to admit having used drugs in the absence of police, but this had only a small effect. CONCLUSIONS: People who drug preload are a vulnerable subset of the youth population that is susceptible to experiencing harms in this context. As they drink more alcohol, they experience higher affects than those who do not report to also take drugs. Police engagement through service rather than force may mitigate some risks. Further enquiry is needed to better understand those who engage in this practice and to have quick, cheap, objective tests of what drugs these people are using.

Pre-Loading with Drugs before Entering the Nighttime Entertainment District: A Scoping Review.

Background: Nighttime entertainment districts attract many people who pre-load with alcohol and other substances before entering licensed venues. Despite the harms and dangers associated with both alcohol pre-loading and drug use respectively, there is a paucity of research on drug and polysubstance pre-loading. Objectives: The primary objectives of this scoping review are to systematically map out the body of existing literature on drug and polysubstance pre-loading, discuss methodological potentials and pitfalls in field-based research, identify gaps in knowledge, and derive practical implications and opportunities for future research. Methods: Using the PRISMA (ScR) guidelines, we conducted a search of Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, and Web of Science databases. We followed this up by conducting an author and citation analysis of relevant articles. Results: Of the 632 data sources identified, 338 articles were reviewed after removing duplicates. Overall, only nine articles were included and thematically analyzed. In our review and analysis of the literature, we find people who drug pre-load to be a particularly vulnerable subset of the population. We also posit that the point-of-entry design has greater sensitivity than the commonly used portal-in design. From this, we also draw attention to various time points where field-based researchers can provide intervention. Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of young adults engaging in the behavior, clinicians should consider pre-loading behaviors when assessing for risk and vulnerability. Field-based research would elucidate the full breadth and scope of the growing pre-loading phenomenon and the dangers associated with this practice.

This is the rhythm of the night: Examining the phases of a night-out on preloading motivations and intentions to backload.

BACKGROUND: Field research into the preloading phenomena has rarely examined how patrons move and transition into target events. We conceptualised three phases of the night (PotN) - entering, within and leaving - which a patron can be intercepted by a research group. Our research tested the differences between the PotN on preloading, preloading motivations and alcohol consuming behaviours in a popular night-time entertainment district (NED). METHODS: The sample comprised 1,585 young-adult patrons (934 Men, 651 Women; ages 18-27 years) collected in a cross-sectional design over three PotN. We measured the patron's preloading motivations, current alcohol intoxication and backloading intentions between three different phases of a night-out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, from 9:00p.m. - 4:00 a.m. in Brisbane NEDs (Queensland, Australia). RESULTS: The phases contributed to a difference in preloading rates - one that decreased over the night (p <.001). Between the phases, the motivation of 'saving money' (≈45%) decreased as a reason for preloading and to 'socialise' (≈20%) increased. Enhancement-based preloading motivations (i.e., 'enjoy the feeling' and 'get drunk') were related to increased alcohol intoxication and backloading intentions at different PotN. However, 'saving money' motivations were also associated with a decrease in alcohol intoxication and backloading intentions (i.e., planning to return home to continue alcohol consumption). CONCLUSIONS: Preloading is valued highly by patrons when proximal to the actual preloading. There is a difference between the PotN on preloading rates, preloading motivations, intentions to backload and drinking outcomes as patrons shift from preloading, to entering the NED, to eventually leaving.

A Proposal for a Taxonomy of Pre-Loading.

Background: Pre-loading of alcohol and other drugs has become a prevalent start to nights out in many countries. Studies into pre-loading have been using different operational definitions and descriptions, leading to confusion and debate in the research literature. Purpose/Objective: We wish to propose a full taxonomy so that research into preloading, of any substances, can be specific and standardized. Methods: We address this problem by analyzing (1) terminology used throughout the literature, (2) the evolving nature of this phenomenon, and (3) the operational components comprising this substance use practice. Additionally, we provide a context and rationale for how we view pre-loading in relation to the broader event-level session. Results: Our results propose a full operational definition and taxonomy of pre-loading to be used, and built upon, by researchers. We also provide a visual representation of pre-loading within an event-level session and provide a method to facilitate consistency across cultures. Conclusions: We propose that this system will lead to greater specificity and higher reliability in the interpretation of research results.

Fuel-cell breathalyser use for field research on alcohol intoxication: an independent psychometric evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Several field studies have used fuel-cell breathalysers (FCB) to investigate the prevalence of alcohol intoxication. However, there is a lack of evidence evaluating the psychometric properties of these breathalysers outside of the forensic disciplines. METHODS: The current research describes four studies designed that assess the reliability and validity of portable platinum FCBs for research on alcohol intoxication. Utilising the Alcolizer LE5 breathalyser and, to a lesser degree, the Lifeloc FC-20 and the Lion Intoxilyzer 8000, each study sampled patrons frequenting popular night-time entertainment districts with varying levels of alcohol intoxication. RESULTS: Study one and two found excellent test-retest reliability and inter-instrument reliability for FCBs. Study three and four provided evidence to support the convergent validity of the two FCBs (the LE5 with the FC20), and with an evidential breathalyser (i.e., the Lion Intoxilyzer 8000; EB). DISCUSSION: A 93-97% agreement rate between breathalyser readings was found across the four studies. Portable FCB are recommended as a reliable and valid instrument for research designs requiring quick alcohol intoxication estimations in large populations. Strategies to enhance reliable and valid readings are provided for field researchers.