Long-term effects of a community-based intervention: 5-year follow-up of Clubs against Drugs

Aims To evaluate long-term effects of a multi-component community-based club drug prevention programme.Design A pre- (2003) and post-intervention study (2004 and 2008) design.Setting High-risk licensed premises in central Stockholm, Sweden.Participants The intervention programme, Clubs against Drugs, included community mobilization, drug-training for doormen and other staff, policy work, increased enforcement, environmental changes and media advocacy and public relations work.Measurement The indicator chosen for this study was the frequency of doormen intervention towards obviously drug-intoxicated guests at licensed premises. Professional male actors (i.e. pseudopatrons) were trained to act impaired by cocaine/amphetamines while trying to enter licensed premises with doormen. An expert panel standardized the scene of drug intoxication. Each attempt was monitored by two male observers.Findings At the follow-up study in 2008 the doormen intervened in 65.5% of the attempts (n = 55), a significant improvement compared to 27.0% (n = 48) at the first follow-up in 2004 and to 7.5% (n = 40) at baseline in 2003.Conclusion The Clubs against Drugs community-based intervention programme, a systems approach to prevention, appears to increase the frequency and effectiveness of club doormen's interventions regarding obviously drug-intoxicated guests.