As one of the most popular international destinations for backpackers from the UK[23 ,28 ], Australia was chosen as the country in which to conduct the survey. A cross sectional cohort study design was chosen which utilised a single questionnaire to measure individuals' backpacking experience (e.g. length of trip, destinations visited), behaviour in Australia and, for within individual comparisons, their behaviour in the UK prior to their trip[29 (
link)]. Questions addressed alcohol, tobacco, illicit drug use and sexual behaviour and had been previously validated and utilised in studies of short holidays within Europe[2 (
link),3 (
link)]. However, some questions were adapted to examine the longer lengths of stay routinely experienced by backpackers in Australia and to include substances more commonly used in that country (e.g. methamphetamine[30 (
link)]). Consequently, the range of illicit drugs examined included cannabis, ecstasy, amphetamine (i.e. amphetamine sulphate), methamphetamine, crystal meth or ice (methamphetamine in crystalline form), cocaine, crack, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine, gammahydroxybutrate (GHB), heroin and steroids.
Given the diversity of nightlife and other tourist environments in Australia, two contrasting locations were identified in which to sample backpackers. The first, Sydney (population approximately 4.2 million[31 ]), is a major international metropolis with a flourishing nightlife, busy international transport connections and consequently often the point of arrival and departure for backpackers visiting the country[21 ]. In contrast, around 2700 kilometres north is Cairns (population approximately 120,000[31 ]); the third most common tourist destination in the country after Sydney and Brisbane. Popular with overseas tourists and particularly international backpackers, the city has a less well developed nightlife but one that is very much designed for young travellers.
Ethics approval was received from the University of New South Wales Human Ethics Committee, the auspicing body for the study, and research methods complied with the Helsinki Declaration. Questionnaires were administered in Sydney (28
th April–22
nd November 2005) and Cairns (1
st–6
th August 2005). In both locations backpacking hostels were utilised as the sites for sampling potential respondents and within each hostel researchers approached individuals on a convenience basis. Inclusion criteria for the survey were being age 18 to 35 years, having already been in Australia for at least two weeks and being a UK national. In all cases researchers explained to potential respondents the content of the survey and its anonymous nature. Informed consent was recorded and participants were reimbursed $AUS10 for their time. All individuals meeting the inclusion criteria and agreeing to participate (n = 1012 of 1114 approached; participation rate 90.8%) were given a questionnaire, pen and plain envelope in which to seal the completed questionnaire and return it to the researcher. Completed questionnaires were entered into SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for analysis[32 ]. At this stage a further four questionnaires were excluded as responses did not meet survey inclusion criteria for age or period of stay (n = 3) and one questionnaire was spoilt (i.e. no effort had been made to complete questions and the questionnaire had been defaced).
Analysis utilised a combination of Chi Square, Mann Whitney U, McNemar and Wilcoxon signed rank tests with logistic regression being used to control for confounding relationships between variables when examining predictors of drug use. For logistic regression analyses, amphetamine, methamphetamine and crystal meth were combined into a single category of "used amphetamine type", and a category of "used any illicit drug" was also created.
Bellis M.A., Hughes K.E., Dillon P., Copeland J, & Gates P. (2007). Effects of backpacking holidays in Australia on alcohol, tobacco and drug use of UK residents. BMC Public Health, 7, 1.