Amsterdam 2015
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| Abstract #2371 - Drugs and HIV | ||||
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Session: 34.2: Drugs and HIV (Symposium) on Thursday @ 14.30-16.00 in C103 Chaired by Marianne van der Sande, Don Desjarlais Authors: Presenting Author: Prof Brian C Kelly - Purdue University, United States |
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| Additional Authors: | ||||
| Aim: Prescription drug misuse has emerged as a significant global drug trend during the 21st century. Research focused on prescription drugs misused by gay and bisexual men have largely centered on the use of Viagra and other erectile dysfunction (ED) medications, which have direct ties to sex. Yet, other prescription drugs – such as pain killers, sedatives, and stimulants – may relate to sex in ways more similar to other legal and illegal intoxicants. While studies have begun to identify the links between the misuse of other prescription drugs and sexual behavior, little qualitative analysis of the motivations and meanings underlying these practices exists. | ||||
| Method / Issue: As part of a broader study of contextual influences of prescription drug misuse among young adults, we generated a sample of 402 young adults (18-29) who misuse prescription drugs. All subjects were recruited through time-space sampling. Within the wider sample, 55 young gay/bisexual men were interviewed qualitatively. The thematic analyses conducted examined how prescription drug misuse has generally been integrated within the sexual lives of gay and bisexual men, as well as how it specifically relates to risk. | ||||
| Results / Comments: The findings indicate that prescription drug misuse has become integrated into the sexual routines of some gay and bisexual men in various ways. While some men utilize these substances as intoxicants, these drugs are incorporated into sex (and sexuality, more generally) in other ways. Other purposes of misuse include managing negative affect about relationships and romance, navigating sexual anxiety, providing energy for sex, and mitigating side effects of illicit drugs used as “sex drugs.” These drugs are viewed as safer and effective alternatives to other substances. For some men, through the ways prescription drugs are employed within sexual contexts, these patterns of misuse influence sexual behaviors, some of which have implications for HIV prevention and sexual health more generally. | ||||
| Discussion: Mirroring the wider global drug trend, prescription drug misuse is increasingly an issue for gay and bisexual men. It has been incorporated into sexual routines in varying ways, and may have implications for the prevention of sexual risk behaviors related to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. | ||||
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