Testing the Drug Use and Condomless Anal Sex Link Among Sexual Minority Men: The Predictive Utility of Marijuana and Interactions with Relationship Status

Overview

Journal Drug Alcohol Depend

Publisher Elsevier

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2020 Oct 6

PMID 33022531

Citations 21

Authors

Tyrel J Starks

S Scott Jones

Kory Kyre

Gabriel Robles

Demetria Cain

Ruben Jimenez

Rob Stephenson

Patrick S Sullivan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The association between drug use and condomless anal sex (CAS) is well documented among sexual minority men (SMM). Less is known about whether this association generalizes to marijuana and across relationship status and sexual agreements groups (single, partnered monogamous, partnered open -outside partners permitted, and partnered monogamish -outside partners permitted when main partners are together).

Methods: A nationwide sample of SMM (N = 65,707) were recruited through a geosocial networking app between November 2017 and November 2019. Participants reported on drug use and instances of CAS with casual partners in the previous 30 days.

Results: Both marijuana and club drug use were associated with the occurrence of CAS with casual partners among single men. Only club drug use was associated with CAS frequency in this group. The association between marijuana and the occurrence of CAS did not differ significantly among monogamous men, while the associations between club drug use and the occurrence as well as frequency of CAS were significantly weaker. Meanwhile, the associations between club drug use and the occurrence as well as frequency of CAS did not differ significantly between single and non-monogamous (open and monogamish) subgroups; however, the association between marijuana and the occurrence of CAS was significantly weaker.

Conclusions: Findings largely replicated the robust association between club drug use and CAS with casual partners. They support the assertion that marijuana use predicts sexual risk for some SMM subgroups. Finally, they illustrate the potential for relationship status - and sexual agreements - to contextualize associations between drug use and CAS.

Citing Articles

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Substance Use Classes Among YMSM in an HIV Digital Health Intervention Program: Implications for Acceptability, Engagement, and Health Outcomes.

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A protocol for a randomized controlled trial of couples motivational interviewing to reduce drug use and HIV transmission risk among male couples in the US: the Couples Health Project.

Starks T, Hillesheim J, Castiblanco J, Robles G, S Ingersoll K, Outlaw A BMC Public Health. 2024; 24(1):3216.

PMID: 39563247 PMC: 11577815. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20719-y.

Clients' perceptions of motivational interviewing with couples: A qualitative examination of male couples' statements to counselors in session.

Starks T, Cruse C, Kyre K, Bosco S, S Ingersoll K Couns Psychother Res. 2024; 24(3):1033-1043.

PMID: 39355506 PMC: 11441635. DOI: 10.1002/capr.12723.

A Qualitative Analysis of Shared Values and Motivation for Change Expressed by Sexual Minority Men in Relationships: Use of the Personal Values Card Sort Activity During Motivational Interviewing Sessions Addressing Drug Use and Sexual Health.

Starks T, Stewart J, Gupta S, Hillesheim J, Cain D AIDS Behav. 2024; 28(9):3080-3092.

PMID: 38850332 PMC: 11390316. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-024-04392-1.

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