Club Drug Users

Data suggests that legal and quasi-legal substances are used almost universally in the Vancouver and Victoria club drug scene. In the most recent 2009 data, cocaine, ecstasy and LSD were extensively used in the last year while heroin, crack, amphetamine and crystal meth were relatively uncommon.

When asked to comment on trends in drug use, several participants in Vancouver noted that ketamine is very popular but that there is a paucity of information and educational materials about it. For example, one participant stated, “More youth [are] using ketamine and other ‘experimental’ things. They know a lot about [ecstasy] but not these other drugs.” Similarly, another participant observed that ketamine is “becoming more and more popular in the party scene.” Participants in both cities spoke about the increasing use of DMT (a powerful psychedelic), and one participant noted that DMT is “more available, drug of the future, [it’s] going to make a comeback.”

Other notable comments pertained to prescription drug use in Victoria. One participant noted “quite a bit of prescription drugs out there. [It is] surprising what you can get.” Another participant stated, “Ritalin, I think a lot of students are taking it.”