Epidemiology of recreational drug toxicity in a nightclub environment.

Data on 173 individuals with recreational drug toxicity requiring "medical" assistance in a large urban nightclub was collected from September 2007 to January 2008. Clubbers required assistance following use of a variety of recreational drugs, particularly gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gammabutyrolactone (GBL), and ketamine. The majority of individuals were not first-time recreational drug users, and a significant proportion have recurrent recreational drug toxicity requiring assistance. Limitations related to data collection are discussed. Further studies are needed to investigate the use brief interventions in those with problem recreational drug use within the nightclub environment.