Sexual aggression and victimization among a sample of rural methamphetamine users

Background. Methamphetamine use is commonly associated with the loss of inhibitory control and sexually compulsive behavior, often leading to sexual aggression with intimate partners. In addition, these behaviors contribute to an increased risk for the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV, as well as psychological harms including methamphetamine psychosis, depression, suicide, anxiety and violent behaviors towards family members. Previous studies on methamphetamine-using populations have focused on HIV-risk behaviors and minimally on sexual aggression or victimization experiences of partners or children while high on meth. Methods. In collaboration with a community-based organization that provides outreach services to rural drug users, men and women who had used methamphetamine in the past six months were recruited to complete a paper-based questionnaire to assess sexually violent experiences, illicit substance utilization and various psychosocial variables, including loneliness and community connectedness. Results. Preliminary results show that there are varying levels of reported sexually aggressive and violent experiences among male and female methamphetamine users. Rates of condom and contraceptive use, HIV/STI testing history, lifetime pregnancy and abortion rates and other psychosocial variables are also reported. Higher response rates for sexually violent experiences correlated with having sex with multiple partners and older age. Conclusions. Our findings suggest the need to develop and tailor behavioral and psychological interventions targeting illicit substance users both at the individual and family level.