CAHSS Faculty Articles
Age of Sexual Initiation, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Sexual Risk Behavior among Ecstasy and LSD Users in Porto Alegre, Brazil: A Preliminary Analysis
ORCID ID
0000-0002-1994-9983, 0000-0003-1628-8734, 0000-0003-4027-7840, 0000-0001-9228-7114
ResearcherID
P-1629-2014, L-1235-2016, K-3072-2014, H-3010-2014, D-5452-2015
Publication Title
Journal of Drug Issues
Publication Date
3-1-2011
Abstract
Ecstasy and LSD use is widespread in large Brazilian cities, but there is limited information on their use among young, middle-class, club goers in Brazil. We conducted standardized face-to-face interviews with 200 male and female ecstasy and/or LSD users, focusing on drug use and sexual history, current risk behaviors, and psychiatric symptomatology. Participants with early sexual debut (before 14) were more likely to report lifetime use of marijuana and powder and crack cocaine than those with later sexual initiation. Early sexual debut was associated with past year sexual risk behaviors, including having sex while high (Prevalence Ratio (PR)=1.3), having two or more sex partners (PR=1.3), as well as history of sexual abuse (PR=13.6). Depression and anxiety scores were similar by age of sexual initiation. The implications of these findings are discussed.
DOI
10.1177/002204261104100204
Volume
41
Issue
2
First Page
217
Last Page
231
NSUWorks Citation
Pechansky, F., Remy, L. S., Surratt, H. L., Kurtz, S. P., Maio Rocha, T., Von Diemen, L., Bumaguin, D. B., & Inciardi, J. A. (2011). Age of Sexual Initiation, Psychiatric Symptoms, and Sexual Risk Behavior among Ecstasy and LSD Users in Porto Alegre, Brazil: A Preliminary Analysis. Journal of Drug Issues, 41 (2), 217-231. https://doi.org/10.1177/002204261104100204
