Barcelona 2013
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| Abstract #156 - Drugs and Alcohol | ||||
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Session: 22.8: Drugs and Alcohol (Parallel) on Monday @ 16.30-18.30 in Mirador Chaired by Sam Friedman, Rosa Mansilla Authors: Presenting Author: Mr Mance Buttram - Nova Southeastern University, United States |
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| Additional Authors: Dr. Patricia Solomon, Mr. Larry Baxter, Dr. Alan Casey, Mr. Will Chegwidden, Mr. Duncan MacLachlan, Dr. Joy MacDermid, Ms. Anne-Marie Tynan, Dr. Greg Robinson, Dr. Barry Trentham, Ms. Janet Wu, Ms. Elisse Zack, | ||||
| Aim: This presentation examines demographics, drug use, HIV risk behavior, and health and social risk factors associated with lifetime group sex event (GSE) participation among young adult multidrug users. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Data are drawn from baseline assessments used in an ongoing behavioral intervention trial. Participants completed either a computer-assisted or audio-assisted personal interview that included well-tested comprehensive measures of substance use, sexual behavior, and related health and social risks. Eligible participants were ages 18-39, and reported recent (past 90 days) and regular use of club drugs (cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, GHB, ketamine, or methamphetamine) and misuse of prescription medications (N=300). | ||||
| Results / Comments: Median age was 26. Thirty-four percent were female; 51.9% Latino, 21.7% Black/African American, 21.7% White, and 4.7% other ethnicity. Over 43% (N=129) of participants had a history of GSE participation and of those, 99% (N=128) used drugs during the GSE. Compared to those who have not, participants with GSE history were more likely to be White (p=0.021), bisexual (p=0.012), report heroin use (p=0.005), drug injection (p=0.004), physical and/or sexual abuse (p=0.010), and meet criteria for severe mental distress (p=0.027) in addition to reporting less satisfaction with family relationships (p=0.035), friendships (p=0.013), and living situation (p=0.039). Over 19% (N=59) of GSE participants reported unprotected intercourse during GSEs and these participants were more likely to report using hallucinogens (p=0.002), and misusing prescription opioids (p=0.030), and anal intercourse (p=0.003) than participants who did not report unprotected intercourse during GSEs. The substances most reported at GSEs include powder or crack cocaine (N=49), alcohol (N=32), marijuana (N=28), ecstasy (N=10), and LSD (N=4). | ||||
| Discussion: The use of club drugs is common in many major cities and the use of these substances puts participants at high risk for health and social problems including HIV transmission risk. Such risks can be exacerbated by participation in GSEs in which HIV or STI infection may pass from multiple individuals very quickly. Our data show that GSE participation is associated with drug injection. Further a large majority of GSE participants reported unprotected intercourse during group sex. Thus, the possibility of acquiring HIV or STI infection may be even greater among GSE participants. These findings suggest that HIV prevention efforts or interventions must address GSEs and substance use among young people. This research was supported by Grant DA019048 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the National Institutes of Health. | ||||
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