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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Jose Nanin, EdD, CHES, Center for HIV Eduational Studies and Training (CHEST), Hunter College and Kingsborough Community College, City Univeristy of New York, 250 West 26th Street, New York, NY 10001, 212-206-7919, jnanin@kbcc.cuny.edu, David Bimbi, Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), Hunter College, City University of New York, 250 West 26th Street, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001, and Jeffrey T. Parsons, PhD, Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), Hunter College, 250 West 26th St., Suite 300, New York, NY 10009.

Background: Crystal methamphetamine use is an emerging health problem for gay and bisexual men in New York City. In addition, the connection between crystal meth use and high-risk sex which can result in HIV transmission in this population has been well documented in the literature. In response to these health concerns, community activists and organizations have developed public health campaigns to encourage gay and bisexual men to avoid or reconsider using crystal meth. Method: Reactions to three major crystal meth prevention campaigns in New York City were obtained via a cross-sectional, community-based intercept survey at two gay community events in the Fall of 2004. Results: A sample of 971 gay/bisexual men was surveyed, of which 38.4% were men of color. Nineteen percent of the sample (19.3%) reported ever using crystal meth, while 9.4% reported recent use (in the past three months). Of the latter group of recent users, 73.4% (or 6.9% of the whole sample) also used drugs before or during sexual activity (i.e.,“Party n' Play”). HIV-positive gay/bisexual men were significantly more likely to report ever using crystal, recently using crystal, and recently using crystal with sex than were HIV-negative men. Almost two-thirds of the sample (61.8%) reported having been exposed to the campaigns. Those who reported lifetime use, recent use, and recent use of crystal with sex were significantly more likely to have seen the campaigns. Conclusion: Crystal meth prevention campaigns require additional messages to better reach sub-populations of gay/bisexual men.

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