APHA
Back to Annual Meeting Page
 
American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
5167.0: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 2:45 PM

Abstract #106077

Is there a difference between old and young men's use of Viagra?

Dennis G. Fisher, PhD1, Grace L. Reynolds, DPA1, Robert Malow, PhD2, Rhonda K. Rosenberg, PhD3, Adi Jaffe, BA1, and Nisha Farrell, BS2. (1) Center for Behavioral Research & Services, California State University, Long Beach, 1090 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813, 562-495-2330, dfisher@csulb.edu, (2) Robert Stempel School of Public Health/ AIDS Prevention Program, Florida International University, 3000 N.E. 151 Street, ACI-260, North Miami, FL 33181, (3) Research Assistant Professor, Stempel School of Public Health, Florida International University, AIDS Prevention Program, Biscayne Bay Campus, AC1 260, 3000 NE 151st Street, Miami, FL 33181

BACKGROUND: The maturing out of substance abuse has been well documented for both gay and straight men. Until recently, Viagra has been marketed primarily to older men, even though several reports show that Viagra use is unrelated to age. We wanted to investigate different models Viagra use for younger as compared to older men. METHODS: A Los Angeles County sample of 295 men over the age of 42 (old) were compared to 217 men ages of 18 and 42 (young) using NIDA's Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA) and the Designer Drug Trailer (DDT). RESULTS: Multiple logistic models predicting lifetime use of Viagra were constructed separately for the older and younger age groups. The former (old) included: White compared to other races (OR=15.6), Black compared to other races (OR=10.35), Ever used MDMA (OR=4.8), Number of different sex partners in the last 30 days, each partner (OR=1.26), and Consider yourself to be homeless (OR=0.28). The model for the young men included: Ever used Rohypnol (OR=22.3), Ever been told you were HIV infected (OR=7.1), Ever used Ketamine (OR=5.1), White compared to other races (OR=4.75), and Number of different sex partners in the last 30 days, each partner (OR=1.25). CONCLUSIONS: In both the older and younger age group, Viagra is related to high-risk sex. Such a finding requires further exploration of the Viagra-unsafe sex connection. Conventional safe sex interventions may no longer be on message with the concerns of men engaging in perceived recreational behavior.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant in this session will be able to

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Sexual Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

HIV/AIDS: Critical Trends

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA