Critical Appraisal of Evidence on Illicit Drug Use at Music Festivals

This paper critically appraises a study on the use of illicit drugs at music festivals in Australia and reflects on a case study based on the findings. The study evaluates the proportions and patterns of drug use among youths and their attitudes towards drug checking at festivals. The paper provides insights into the limitations of drug testing services and the need for targeted harm reduction information.

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Title
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HLSC122 Semester 1, 2019
Assessment 3: Critical appraisal of evidence
Word count:
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Day, N., Criss, J., Griffiths, B., Gujral, S. K., John-Leader, F., Johnston, J., & Pit, S. (2018). Music festival
attendees’ illicit drug use, knowledge and practices regarding drug content and purity: a cross-
sectional survey. Harm reduction journal, 15(1), 1.
Introduction
People who visits music festivals in Australia, have reported the use of higher levels of illicit drugs than
normally seen in the general population. Stimulant and psychedelic recreational drugs such as MDMA
and ecstasy are largely used at the musical events. Besides this, other drugs like cannabis, LSD are also
used. Several risks are associated with the use of these drugs like irrational behavior, sexual abuse,
hallucinations and increased blood pressure and pulse rate.
This paper will critically appraise a paper by Day et al., (2018), and will reflect on the case study of
Emily based upon the findings of the paper on the illicit use of drugs in the musical concerts.
PART A – Critical appraisal
Authorship
This paper has been published by seven authors. Niamh Day, being the first author has done his Phd
from the school of medicine, University of Western Sydney, NSW , Australia , which is a repudiated
university. There had been many publications under this author.
Other authors included Joshua Criss, Phd, from the University for Rural health
Benjamin Griffiths, Harm Reduction and Health Promotion Programs, North Coast Public Health, Mid
North Coast Local Health District, PO Box 419, Lismore, NSW, Australia ; Shireen Kaur Gujral, chool of
Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Franklin John-Leader, Jennifer
Johnston and Sabrina Pit.
The authors have stated that they do not have any conflict of interest.
No information about the funding has been provided in this paper. The paper has been peer-reviewed.
Research questions
The aim of the study is to evaluate the proportions and the patterns of the illicit drug use among the
youths and their attitude towards drug checking at festivals and the impact of the potential drug
checking on the intended drug usage (Day et al., 2018). Considering the research question, a proper
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research question cannot be found in the paper, although there is a clearly stated research aims and
objectives.
The author has given a valid justification regarding the conduction of the study. There had been
a confusion, whether drug testing in the musical festival restricts the use of the illicit drugs or reduces
the chance of the use of illicit drugs (Day et al., 2018). The author has clearly indicated towards the
rampant use of the illicit drugs among the youths. As reported by the attendees of the festival, a higher
rate of illicit drug use have been found to be higher in the music concerts. This concept has again been
supported by studies regarding festivals all around in Australia showing a higher rate of drug use in the
same age groups in the general population.
Research design
A survey will be conducted with the attendees of the concert. The content of the survey was guided by
the previous research in the area. In this paper the researcher has provide with a detailed information
about the entire methods (Day et al., 2018). The survey is a useful measure in quantitative studies. They
are relatively cost effective. Secondly surveys can be useful as characteristics of a large population. No
other research methods can provide a broader capability, ensuring a more accurate sample for
gathering the targeted results (Johnson & Christensen, 2018). Again, the anonymity of the survey allows
the client to answer with more valid answers.
The data has been predominantly quantitative with some open ended questions for the drug users.
Open ended questions provides freedom to the participants to express a bit about their grievances
(Setia, 2016). Two waves of pilot testing of the surveys has been conducted involving few attendants.
No, justification has been provided by the students, as why this research design has been chosen.
Research methods
The researcher had Data collection has been done from the participants where the participants were
asked to make a paper based survey anonymously and they were approached only during the day light
hours for minimizing the chance of the persons being intoxicated during the completion of the survey.
No incentives have been provided. Before the conduction of the survey, the participants were provided
with a participant’s information statement containing information about the survey. After taking the
survey, it was placed in a closed box for ensuring confidentiality. However, before the survey was being
conducted a short summary of what drug testing is, was given from the health promotion stall.
A number of biases can occur due to the survey that might affect the credibility of the research
(Sedgwick, 2014). Non response bias can occur, where the participants might not be willing to give the
answers, as many people like to represent themselves in the favorable light and hence might be
unwilling to admit on the unsavory attitude (Brannen, 2017). Although the chance of this bias is less
because the survey results were kept confidential.
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The data analysis was done by using SPSS version 22. In order to find out the association
between the categorical variables, Chi square tests were conducted .A P value less than 0.05 was
considered to be statistically significant.
Some of the limitations associated with the research methodology is the surveys cannot provide
a strong evidence of the cause and effect, insecurity restricting the access to the population of concern
and lack of time. Privacy and confidentiality was maintained during the conduction of the survey.
Results and limitations
The article has given a clear and vivid idea of the results and the discussions required. Tables and charts
were used to inform the results. The findings were consistent with the previous researches where the
illicit drug usage has been found to be highest during the music festivals even when drug testing
methods were being done. Many of the respondents have stated dealers could use of the service to
ensure that their products does not contain any unintended substances. Many of the respondents have
stated that drug users would change their drug taking behavior if the drug checking service revealed any
kind of unexpected or undesired substance (Day et al., 2018). Author has pointed out several limitations,
like participants did not likely represented the whole population of the attendees of the music festival.
The predominance of the female attendees did not correspond with the national data. High proportion
of females also skew the result interpretation (Day et al., 2018). Another limitation of the study is the
self-reporting. Participants who looked visibly intoxicated were excluded from the survey that might
have affected the finding. Convenience sampling has caused systematic bias.
PART B – Application of evidence to practice
Reflecting on the give scenario, it can be said that chances remain that Emily might be the victim of
substances, as it is known from the findings that the drug testing services are always not very effective in
finding any harmful substances. In spite of all the harm reduction strategies taken up, there will always
be people who will experiment with substances and electronic musical dance events are very popular
environment for the use of substances. Hence it is important for Emily to maintain her own
precautionary measures and to refrain from the use of the drugs. As it has been already known from the
article discussed above, both peer pressure and drug testing services can increase the use of the illicit
drugs.
The information from the research paper can definitely be used as the paper has almost met all
the criteria of the PICO question. There are several individual and organizational barriers, like the health
care professional would require special training which might not be very cost effective, in order to
facilitate drug testing services in clinical practices. The health care professionals would further have to
remain update about use of the new drugs and the trends. New equipment might not be present in
order to facilitate drug testing making it a not very feasible option to be introduced in clinical practice.
Conclusion
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In conclusion, it can be said that promotion of zero tolerance on the use of the drugs at the
musical events, presence of police and the sniffer drugs are not stopping the festival goers from taking
the drugs. It has been found that they have become immuned to the messaging around the risk of drugs.
A more targeted harm reduction information is required to be more effective for this population.
However as a part of the precautionary measure, Emily have to remain her own dignity and strong
willpower of refraining herself from the use of the illicit drugs.
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References
Brannen, J. (2017). Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge.
Day, N., Criss, J., Griffiths, B., Gujral, S. K., John-Leader, F., Johnston, J., & Pit, S. (2018). Music festival
attendees’ illicit drug use, knowledge and practices regarding drug content and purity: a cross-
sectional survey. Harm reduction journal, 15(1), 1.
Johnson, B., & Christensen, L. (2018). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed
approaches. Sage.
Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful
sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research.
Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(5), 533-
544.
Sedgwick, P. (2014). Cross sectional studies: advantages and disadvantages. Bmj, 348, g2276.
Setia, M. S. (2016). Methodology series module 3: Cross-sectional studies. Indian journal of
dermatology, 61(3), 261.
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