Healthy nightclubs and recreational substance use: From a harm minimisation to a healthy settings approach.

This reprinted chapter originally appeared in Bellis, M.A. et al. (2002) Healthy nightclubs and recreational substance use: from a harm minimisation to a healthy settings approach, Addictive Behaviors, 27 (6): 1025-35. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2002-18538-013.) Argues that the relationship between the health effects of substance use and the environment in which they are used is much wider than temperature control and access to water and extends across the entire nightlife setting. The range of factors that contribute to risk in nighttime environments are explored and initiatives that effectively address these issues without curtailing fun are described. It is contended that by adopting a broad settings approach to nightclubs, inclusive solutions to reducing harm in clubs can be better developed and disseminated. The same approach can also facilitate multidisciplinary involvement in nightlife health, taking health issues solely from health departments and placing the responsibility also in the hands of organizations such as local authorities, police, voluntary organizations, club owners and managers, door staff, and clubbers themselves. It is suggested that with worldwide growth in dance music tourism, this multidisciplinary approach needs to be extended to include travel and tourism organizations and requires collaboration on an international level. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved) (from the create)