Review of 'Drugs, clubs and young people: Sociological and public health perspectives'.

Reviews the book, "Drugs, clubs and young people: Sociological and public health perspectives" edited by B. Sanders (2006). The book comprises ten chapters, on a wide range of subjects illustrating the complexity of the 'post-rave' scene. Each essay presents an insight into contemporary drug usage and popular youthful behaviours across the world. All of the essays use solid empirical methods to illuminate their subjects, and all but two present original data. The aim is to 'explore and analyse behaviours common at raves and nightclubs through sociological and public health perspectives' (p. xii). By recognising the increasing normalisation of drugs and the commoditisation of club culture, the authors approach these issues primarily as public health concerns rather than criminal justice ones. This is an excellent collection of essays, which will appeal to any interested reader, but it also entails a scientific approach suitable for practitioners and academics, providing much needed empirical data in an under-researched area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)