Recreational Drug Use & Night Life: Special Reference to Night Club Events in Colombo

Abstract

Substance abuse as a social phenomenon, is varies from different settings and sub groups. Nigh club culture is being emerging in urban and coastal area in the country and recreational drug use is also being emerging associating with night club events. Many youths tend to be use substances in their teen age and societal and environmental factors have been influenced for the initiation of drug use. Research problem of this study was what is the combination between substance abuse and night life and the main objective of this research is to identify the nature and current trends of recreational drug use in night clubs in Colombo district. Survey method and case study method was used as research methods and Colombo district selected as study area. Snowball sampling technique was used to select the sample of 50 club drug users. Major findings of this research are as follows, 54% of the sample have initiated drug use at the age range of 15-17 and their curiosity have led them to use. The people, who attend to the party events, were desired to different music types and lighting patterns which feel with effects of drugs. Out of the total sample 90% were used LSD and they may face two kind of experiences which are “good trip” and “bad trip”, further LSD users are using different images which can enhance drug effects. Ecstasy users (49 persons) are using ecstasy party events for feeling euphoria, increase energy, empathy and mild hallucinations. There were two types of party events which are “night party” and “after party” that includes different characteristics and drug use appear as common in both events. Both legal and illegal drugs peddlers were present within the club and 62% (31) of the sample used to buy drugs from them. Further identified that majority of them were not daily clubbing and 32 (64%) of them used to go only in weekends. These people believe drug use in a night club is not a problematic as they used to go once in a week. However, because of the drug use 62% of them have ever been experienced to problematic situations in their life. Social media like Facebook was used to promote the party events Majority, 98%, of the sample have started clubbing when they were less than 30 years. People who attend to party events were multiple drug users. Cannabis (84%), heroin (42%), hashish (44%), pharmaceutical drugs (52%), cocaine (56%) and methamphetamine (56%) are the other popular drugs among them. Subcultural terms were used to communicate within the club such as, the term “phill” used for ecstasy, “acid”, ”stamp” for LSD, “white bair” for cocaine and “ice”, “mendi” for methamphetamine. Persons who attend to night club events consider drug use is a highly socially oriented action. Recreational drug use and the night life are the combined factors in night club settings