Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behavior in HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex With Men: An Episode-Level Analysis

• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-012-0167-4
• Publication Date: 2012-03-05T23:10:06Z
• Authors: Melissa R. Boone; Stephanie H. Cook; Patrick Wilson
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Marijuana Abuse; Inhalant Abuse; Unsafe Sex; Illicit Drugs; Substance-Related Disorders; Amphetamine-Related Disorders; Age Factors; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; Cocaine-Related Disorders; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; Logistic Models; 0302 clinical medicine; HIV Seropositivity; Crack Cocaine; Humans; New York City; Prospective Studies; Homosexuality, Male

Men who have sex with men (MSM) make up nearly half of all people living with HIV in the United States. The prevalence of the epidemic in this population makes it vitally important to understand the transmission of the infection and to develop methods to prevent its spread. The current study uses longitudinal diary methods to examine relationships between substance use and unprotected anal intercourse in a sample of 158 HIV-positive, mostly ethnic minority MSM. Results indicate that both general substance use and use of specific drugs (i.e., inhalants, cocaine, crack, and club drugs) have a substantial impact on the sexual risk behavior of this population.