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Pilot Study Using the Internet To Study Patterns of Party Drug Use: Processes, Findings and Limitations

NCJ Number
218159
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2007 Pages: 169-174
Author(s)
Peter G. Miller; Jennifer Johnston; Paul R. McElwee; Rick Noble
Date Published
March 2007
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This Australian study examined whether it was feasible to recruit and survey party drug users via the Internet.
Abstract
The study concludes that it is feasible to recruit and survey current party drug users via the Internet and that this research method is quicker and cheaper than traditional survey methods. A total of 460 responses were received over 31 days, 393 of which fit all inclusion criteria. The sample consisted predominately of young, male polydrug users. This is one of the largest samples of party drug users in Australia reported thus far; however, the sample was not necessarily representative of the party drug-using population. Still, the sample obtained in this study had demographics broadly similar to those of previous studies of party drug users in Australia. Further, the study demonstrated that Internet-based research is ideally suited to the rapid monitoring of party drug use within defined populations. Future research should compare samples recruited from Internet-based studies with those accessed through more traditional methods. The study was conducted in Victoria, Australia. Participants were directed to a Web site where they completed a brief, structured Internet-based survey. 2 tables and 31 references