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Abstract
Recreational drug use and sexual risk behaviour in London gay men: a causal relationship?
G J Bolding1, J Elford2, L Sherr1
1Royal Free & University College Medical School, London, United Kingdom; 2City University, London, United Kingdom
Background: An association has been reported between high risk sexual behaviour and recreational drug use. The objective of this study was to explore this association by ascertaining whether high risk sexual behaviour occurred while men were actually under the influence of drugs.
Methods: 789 gay/bisexual men (127 HIV positive, 466 HIV negative, 195 never-tested) were surveyed in central London in February 2001 regarding (i) use of recreational drugs (ii) unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) in the previous 3 months by type of partner and HIV status, generally and while on drugs.
Results: Overall, 53.5% (417/779) of the men surveyed had taken recreational drugs (heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines, ketamine, GHB) in the previous year; HIV positive men 66.9%, HIV negative 55.3%, never-tested 40.4% (p<0.001). Recreational drug use was associated with the use of other drugs including Viagra (p<0.001) and anabolic steroids (p<0.001), and with having had a sexually transmitted infection (p<0.001). Men who had taken recreational drugs were more likely than those who had not to report non-concordant UAI (eg HIV negative men 26.8% vs. 13.4%, p<0.001), however this differential disappeared when UAI while actually taking drugs was examined (eg HIV negative men 15.2% vs. 13.4%, p=0.5). Among HIV positive men and never tested men a similar pattern was seen.
Conclusions: Use of recreational drugs, reported by more than half the gay men in this central London sample, appears to be associated with general risk-taking behaviour in this group of men. There was no evidence that drug use per se led to high risk sexual behaviour.
The XIV International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
D11273
Suggested Citation
" G J Bolding , , et al.
Recreational drug use and sexual risk behaviour in London gay men: a causal relationship?
.
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The XIV International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
D11273"
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