Residential Proximity to Electronic Dance Music Nightclubs and Associations with Substance Use, Sexual Behaviors, and Related Problems

This study examines the association between proximity of place of residence to preferred nightclub and substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and related problems, among a sample of 498 young adult substance users in Miami who report regular nightclub participation. Hierarchal linear models and logistic regressions were constructed to examine the impact of residential proximity to preferred nightclub on risk behaviors. Compared with participants residing in closer proximity to their preferred nightclub, participants residing further away reported higher intensities of alcohol and cocaine use ( p < .01), greater condomless vaginal sex frequencies ( p < .001), and more substance dependence symptoms ( p < .05). Conversely, participants residing in closer proximity to their preferred nightclub had higher likelihood of arrest history ( p < .05) than participants residing further away. Results suggest that participants residing further from their preferred nightclubs may be more invested in the nightclub outing and, therefore, engage in more risk behaviors.