The Relationship Between Alcohol and Drug Use, Compulsive Sexual Behavior, and Condomless Anal Sex in Men Who Have Sex with Men: Analysis of Retrospectively-Reported Sexual Behavior

Overview

Journal AIDS Behav

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2023 Jan 12

PMID 36633765

Authors

Neil Gleason

Gabriel Smith

Jessica R Canning

William H George

Mary E Larimer

Todd L Jennings

Eli Coleman

Michael H Miner

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately impacted by HIV in the United States, and substance use and compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) are contributors to HIV risk behavior. This study sought to examine the direct and interactive effects of concurrent substance use and CSB on condomless anal sex (CAS) in a community sample of MSM (N = 200) utilizing a 90-day timeline follow-back assessment. Results indicated CSB did not directly increase risk for CAS when controlling for substance use and age. There was limited evidence for a direct effect of concurrent alcohol use on CAS, and no evidence for an interaction effect with CSB. The relationship between concurrent drug use and CAS was moderated by CSB, such that concurrent drug use was positively associated with CAS for those who screened positive for CSB, while the association was non-significant for those who screened negative. Implications and limitations of these findings are discussed.

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