Methamphetamine-using HIV-positive men who have sex with men: correlates of polydrug use

Methamphetamine use has become a major problem among communities of men having sex with men (MSM), where it has been associated with high-risk behaviors. Methamphetamine is often combined with other drugs that may increase its risks and adverse health consequences. To examine differences in backgrou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of urban health 2005-03, Vol.82 (1 Suppl 1), p.i120-i126
Main Authors: Patterson, Thomas L, Semple, Shirley J, Zians, James K, Strathdee, Steffanie A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Bisexuality
Cocaine
Heroin
HIV Seropositivity - complications
HIV Seropositivity - epidemiology
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Light
Male
Methamphetamine
Risk taking
Sexual Behavior
Sexually transmitted diseases
Socioeconomic Factors
STD
Street Drugs
Substance-Related Disorders - complications
Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology
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Summary:Methamphetamine use has become a major problem among communities of men having sex with men (MSM), where it has been associated with high-risk behaviors. Methamphetamine is often combined with other drugs that may increase its risks and adverse health consequences. To examine differences in background characteristics, HIVrisk behaviors, and psychosocial variables among polydrug-using HIV-positive MSM, the researchers classified a sample of 261 HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using MSM into three user groups: (1) methamphetamine only; (2) methamphetamine, marijuana, and poppers (light polydrug users); and (3) methamphetamine and other drugs (e.g., cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and ketamine; heavy polydrug users). Only 5% reported using only methamphetamine during the past 2 months; 31% were classified as light polydrug users, and 64% were classified as heavy polydrug users. Heavy polydrug users were significantly younger than light polydrug users (35.6 vs. 38.4, P
ISSN:1099-3460
1468-2869
DOI:10.1093/jurban/jti031