Club Health 2008

Over the years I have discussed a number of conferences that I have attended around the world. The one that always received the most comment is the Club Health Conference. In 2005 we also held an Australian Club Health Conference in Sydney which was hugely successful. Last week it was announced that the next conference will be held in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza, Spain, from 23 to 25 June 2008.
The Balearic island of Ibiza is one of the world’s leading international nightlife destinations with the clubbing culture in Ibiza acknowledged as one of the most influential in the world. The clubs are internationally known and the island plays host to the largest club in the world, Privilege. Even people who have had very little to do with the clubbing scene may have heard of clubs such as Manumission and Space. There are several major clubs located on the western side of the island, in four main areas, and from the beginning of June to the end of September each year they play host to some of the wildest, most spectacular club nights in the world.
Bars, nightclubs and the other nightlife venues are now a central element in the recreation and enjoyment of millions of people throughout the world. However, nightlife can also lead to a range of health and social issues including alcohol, tobacco and drug use, violence and criminal activity, risky sexual behaviour and environmental and safety issues. Tackling such issues involves not only a wide range of services protecting and promoting health at night, but also organisations and individuals involved in managing and regulating nightlife environments and those who simply utilise the night-time environment for pleasure.
When we held Club Health in Sydney a number of Sydney Star Observer readers attended the conference after hearing about it in this column. All of them got a great deal out of it. So if you work in the nightlife area, the health or law enforcement sector or simply enjoy clubbing this could be a great event to attend and a terrific holiday to boot. For further information on the conference see the Club Health website at www.clubhealth.org.uk.
Remember: if you do not want any negative consequences, do not use the drug and, no matter how many times you have used a substance, never be blasé.