Faculty Articles

Crystal methamphetamine: A source of added sexual risk for Hispanic men who have sex with men?

Publication Title

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

ISSN

0376-8716

Publication Date

1-1-2007

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether use of crystal methamphetamine increases HIV risk behaviors beyond the risk associated with use of other recreational drugs among Hispanic men who have sex with men (HMSM). Design: We compared the sexual behaviors and psychosocial characteristics of non-recreational drug users (non-users), recreational drug users who did not use crystal (non-crystal drug users), and recreational drug users who used crystal (crystal users). Methods: We recruited 294HMSMfrom Internet and 272 from community venues. Eligible men completed anACASI to assess socio-demographic factors, drug use, sexual behaviors and psychosocial factors and received $50. Results: In the multivariate model, crystal users were more likely than non-crystal drug users to have lower Hispanicism, higher attachment to the gay community, and history of suicide attempts. Crystal users were not significantly different from non-crystal drug users in number of sex partners; however, differences in unprotected receptive anal sex approached significance. Conclusions: The additional risk of crystal above that of other recreational drugs needs to be disentangled from those associated with poly-drug use. Our data suggest that it may depend on howone defines risky sexual behavior and is influenced by psychological, physiologic and social factors.

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.06.016

Volume

86

Issue

2-3

First Page

245

Last Page

252

Disciplines

Medical Specialties | Medicine and Health Sciences | Osteopathic Medicine and Osteopathy

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