246581 Change over time in drug and alcohol use patterns among Black and White young men who have sex with men

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Jennifer L. Lauby, PhD , Research and Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Mary Milnamow, MSS , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Heather Batson , Research & Evaluation, Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
BACKGROUND: Young men who have sex with men (MSM) report high rates of risk behaviors including alcohol and drug use. We examined factors related to changes in substance use over a three year period among young Black and White MSM.

METHODS: We recruited 461 MSM ages 15 to 29 in Philadelphia and Baltimore who reported recent use of alcohol and/or drugs. Follow-up interviews were completed with 317 (69%) at 12 months post-baseline and 294 (64%) at 24 months post-baseline.

RESULTS: Comparing number of drugs used at three time points, we found that 20% of MSM consistently used no drugs or only one drug (usually marijuana), 11% consistently used 2 or more drugs, 21% decreased their number of drugs over time, 6% consistently increased drug use and 37% reported fluctuating drug use. MSM who reported less binge drinking were significantly more likely to have increased or stable high rates of drug use. White MSM were more likely than Black MSM to report high rates of drug use at all time points, with racial differences in the specific drugs used. There were no differences in change patterns by age, income or city.

CONCLUSIONS: For many young MSM, substance use patterns change over time. For some, drugs may replace the use of alcohol, indicating the need to examine how these substance use patterns are inter-related.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe how patterns of drug and alcohol use change over time among young men who have sex with men. 2. Compare drug and alcohol use patterns for Black and White young men who have sex with men.

Keywords: Drug Use, Gay Men

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal investigator for this NIDA-funded project and I oversee programs related to drug use and HIV prevention
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.