238588 Episodic Analysis of Illicit Drug Use and Sexual Risk Taking in YMSM Ages 13-29 in NYC

Wednesday, November 2, 2011: 1:30 PM

Robert W. Moeller, EdM , Center for Health, Identity, Behavior, and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS), New York University, New York, NY
Perry Halkitis, PhD, MS , Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY
Daniel Siconolfi, MPH , Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies, New York University, New York, NY
Background: HIV rates continue to rise for young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in NYC. An episodic analysis of unprotected sexual behaviors during the last two sexual encounters offers an opportunity to explore the role of illicit substance use in the HIV epidemic. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 558 13-29 year old YMSM in NYC, utilizing hand held palm devices. Results: 558 participants, 40.1% (n = 224) had used marijuana, 14.2% (n = 79) had used powder cocaine, 12.4% (n = 69) had used nitrite inhalants, and 7.5% (n = 42) reported having used ecstasy in the previous 3-months. Tetrachoric correlations were computed for sexual behaviors in each episode with a casual partner and use of illicit drugs. In episode 1 unproteced receptive anal intercourse was related to nitrite inhalant use (φ = .16, p < .01) and party drug (cocaine and ecstasy) use (φ = .16, p < .01). Multivariate analyses suggest a greater likelihood of engagement in receptive anal intercourse among Black and API YMSM as compared to White men. Conclusions: Overall rates of illicit substance use appear low in YMSM, however, there is a significant association between use of cocaine, ecstasy and inhalant nitrates, and sexual risk taking. The analysis indicates that while a contributing factor to the rising HIV rates, substance use may not in fact be a primary reason for the increased rates of HIV infection.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1) Assess the use of a research designs utilizing episodic sexual and substance use data. 2) Analyze aggregate data of substance use behaviors among YMSM.

Keywords: Adolescents, Gay Men

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a project director at the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies at NYU and have lead the research teams involved in the collection of the data being presented.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Substance Use & HIV/AIDS
See more of: HIV/AIDS