Dancing with Molly: A Comparative Content Analysis of Club Drug Use, EDM Festivals, and Harm Reduction

• In Event: Research on Different Types of Drugs

Abstract

In the past, an increasing amount of media attention has focused on the club drug scene and its development around the world. Synonymous with its popularity, the dance club culture has been met with increasing rates of drug use, including MDMA (‘Molly’) and ecstasy consumption. However, with the recent introduction of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festivals, the club drug scene has lost popularity in Canadian culture. Despite this recent development, few academic studies have examined this ever-growing phenomenon. The purpose of this research is to compare and contrast the well-known club drug scene to the emergent EDM culture. Adopting a constructionist framework, a qualitative content analysis will be implemented to (1) explore and describe how drug use in club cultures and EDM settings is constructed in the media; (2) to determine if the environment itself contributes to risky drug consumption; and (3) to examine if drug use in both settings are managed through harm reduction strategies. Data for this content analysis will draw from online Canadian newspapers to compare how the media portrays the aforementioned issue. Findings will be presented through underlying themes and patterns that emerge in the data. Recommendations for the future will also be discussed.

Author

• Rebecca Hoffner, University of Guelph