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Abstract
Changing trajectories of drug use among aging MSM
S.H. Lim1, R. Stall2, J. Burke2, A. Silvestre3, M. Marshal4
Background: Methamphetamine and amyl butyrate (poppers) use are associated with HIV sero-conversion, health and social problems in MSM (men who have sex with men). Although high rates of use can extend into later life, no study has examined how powder drug use changes as gay men age. This study aims to understand and analyze the trajectories of drug use from earlier to later life in MSM over the age of 50.
Methods: Using data from the Pittsburgh Men’s Study, an on-going cohort study of the natural history of HIV infection among MSM in Pittsburgh, we examined the history of popper use of MSM over 50 over the past 10 years. A semiparametric, group-based approach was used and model fitting was evaluated by guidelines by Nagin et al (2005).
Results: The best fitting model included four distinct groups of trajectories of popper use. Majority of the participants (67%) had a very low probability of use over all visits. About 13% of the sample (consistently high) had very high probability of use consistently through out all visits. An increasing group (11%) began at first visit with low probability of use that rose steadily over time. A decreasing group (9.3%) had a high probability of use at the first visit which declined to near-zero probability of use at last visit. A parallel analysis of any powder drug use including methamphetamine use yielded similar results.
Conclusions: This study is the first to show that different trajectories of drug use exist among aging gay men. Our study identified a small “high risk” group who were more likely to use drugs as they grew older, but most of the men demonstrated considerable resilience in avoiding drug use and drug-related problems as they aged
AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
TUPE0882
Suggested Citation
"S.H.Lim, et al.
Changing trajectories of drug use among aging MSM.
:
AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
TUPE0882"
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