Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Evidence for Risk Reduction Among Amphetamine-Injecting Men Who have Sex with Men; Results from National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Surveys in the Seattle Area 2008–2012

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the Seattle area men who have sex with men and also inject amphetamines (amphetamine-injecting MSM/IDU) are disproportionately likely to be infected with HIV. To characterize their distinctive characteristics, we combined data from two Seattle-area surveys of men who have sex with men (MSM) and two surveys of injection drug users (IDU). Amphetamine-injecting MSM/IDU were compared with: male IDU, MSM and other MSM/IDU. Amphetamine-injecting MSM/IDU were older than MSM but younger than IDU, more likely to be white than either group, and had an educational level higher than IDU but below MSM. They had the highest HIV prevalence (56 vs. 4–19 %). However, reported HIV cases among them fell from 92 in 1990 to 25 in 2012. They were most likely to report ten or more sex partners (49 vs. 4–26 %), an STD diagnosis (22 vs. 1–7 %) and be tested for HIV (odds ratio 1.00 vs. 0.34–0.52), and least likely to share needles (odds ratio 1.00 vs. 6.80–10.50). While sexual risk remains high, these data suggest measurable and effective risk reduction with respect to sharing injection equipment and HIV testing among Seattle-area amphetamine-injecting MSM/IDU.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Unit. Public Health—Seattle & King County and the Infectious Disease and Reproductive Health Assessment Unit, Washington State Department of Health. HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Report, 1st half ‘13 Available at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/hiv/epi/reports.aspx. Accessed 26 March 2014.

  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2011.Vol.23. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/surveillance/index.html. Accessed 26 March 2014.

  3. HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Unit. Public Health—Seattle & King County and the Infectious Disease and Reproductive Health Assessment Unit,Washington State Department of Health. HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Report, 2nd half ‘12. Available at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/hiv/epi/reports.aspx. Accessed 26 March 2014.

  4. Burt RD, Thiede H, Barash ET, Sabine K. Recent condom use by arrested injection drug users in King County, Washington, USA. Int J Drug Policy. 2006;17:222–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Harris NV, Thiede H, McGough JP, Gordon D. Risk factors for HIV infection among injection drug users: results of blinded surveys in drug treatment centers, King County, Washington 1988–1991. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 1993;6(11):1275–82.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Thiede H, Burt RD. Results from the Kiwi Study: HIV and Hepatitis C prevalence and risk behaviors in recently arrested injection drug users in King County. Washington State/Seattle-King County HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Report 1st Half 2004 Available at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/hiv/epi/reports aspx. Accessed 26 March 2014.

  7. Kingston S, Thiede H. Methamphetamine use and HIV among Seattle area MSM. Washington State/Seattle-King County HIV/AIDS Epidemiology 2007; Report 2nd Half, 2004; Available at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/hiv/epi/reports.aspx. Accessed 26 March 2014.

  8. Gallagher K, Sullivan PS, Lansky A, Onorato I. Behavioral surveillance among people at risk for HIV infection in the US: The National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System. Public Health Rep. 2007;122:32–8.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Burt RD, Thiede H. Comparing injection drug users who do and do not report male-to-male sex. Washington State/Seattle-King County HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Report, 1st Half 2012. Available at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/hiv/epi/reports.aspx. Accessed 26 March 2014.

  10. MacKellar DA, Gallagher KM, Finlayson T, Sanchez T, Lansky A, Sullivan PS. Surveillance of HIV risk and prevention behaviors of men who have sex with men—a national application of venue-based, time-space sampling. Public Health Rep. 2007;122(Suppl 1):39–47.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Heckathorn DD. Respondent-driven sampling: a new approach to the study of hidden populations. Soc Probl. 1997;44(2):174–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Burt RD, Thiede H. Variations in patterns of sexual risk behavior among Seattle-area MSM based on their HIV status, the HIV status of their partner and partner type. AIDS Behav. 2012;16:599–607.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Burt RD, Thiede H. Evaluating consistency in repeat surveys of injection drug users recruited by respondent-driven sampling in the Seattle area: results from the NHBS-IDU1 and NHBS-IDU2 surveys. Ann Epidemiol. 2012;22(5):354–63.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Hagan H, McGough JP, Thiede H, Weiss NS, Hopkins S, Alexander ER. Syringe exchange and risk of infection with hepatitis B and C viruses. Am J Epidemiol. 1999;149(3):203–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Thiede H, Romero M, Bordelon K, Hagan H, Murrill CS. Using a jail-based survey to monitor HIV and risk behaviors among Seattle area injection drug users. J Urban Health. 2001;78(2):264–78.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. SPSS. version 20. SPSS Chicago, IL.

  17. Respondentdrivensampling.org. RDSAT version 6.0. Available at: http://www.respondentdrivensampling.org. Accessed 26 March 2014.

  18. NETDRAW. Available at: http://www.analytictec.com/Netdraw/setup.exe. Accessed 26 March 2014.

  19. RDS Analysis Tool 5.6 User Manual. Available at: http://www.respondentdrivensampling.org . Accessed 26 March 2014.

  20. Brady JE, Friedman SR, Cooper HL, Flom PL, Tempalski B, Gostnell K. Estimating the prevalence of injection drug users in the US and in large US metropolitan areas from 1992–2002. J Urban Health. 2008;85(3):323–51.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. U.S.Census. 2000. Available at: http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml. Accessed 26 March 2014.

  22. Bull SS, Piper P, Rietmeijer C. Men who have sex with men and also inject drugs - Profiles of risk related to the synergy of sex and drug injection behaviors. J Homosex. 2002;42(3):31–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Maslow CB, Friedman SR, Perlis TD, Rockwell R, Des Jarlais DC. Changes in HIV seroprevalence and related behavior among male injection drug users who do and do not have sex with men: New York City, 1990–1999. Am J Public Health. 2002;92(3):382–4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Kral AH, Lorvick J, Ciccarone D, Wenger L, Gee L, Martinez A, et al. HIV prevalence and risk behaviors among men who have sex with men and inject drugs in San Francisco. J Urban Health. 2005;82(1):i43–50.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Fairbairn N, Kerr T, Buxton JA, Li K, Montaner JS, Wood E. Increasing use and associated harms of crystal methamphetamine injection in a Canadian setting. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2007;88:313–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. Ferreira AD, Caiaffa WT, Bastos FI, Mingoti SA. Profile of male Brazilian injecting drug users who have sex with men. Cad Saude Publica. 2006;22(4):849–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Marongiu A, Hope VD, Parry JV, Ncube F. Male IDUs who have sex with men in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: are they at greater risk of blood borne virus infection and harm than those who ony have sex with women? Sex Transm Infect. 2012;88:456–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Zamani S, Ono-Kihara M, Ichikawa S, Kihara M. Potential for sexual transmission of HIV infection from male injecting-drug users who have sex with men in Tehran, Iran. Sex Transm Dis. 2008;37(11):715–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Buchacz K, McFarland W, Kellogg TA, Loeb L, Holmberg SD, Dilley J, et al. Amphetamine use is associated with increased HIV incidence among men who have sex with men in San Francisco. AIDS. 2005;19:1422–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Hirshfield S, Reimien RHWI, Chiasson MA. Crystal methamphetamine use predicts incident STD infection among men who have sex with men recruited online: a nested case–control study. J Med Internet Res. 2004;6:e41.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Thiede H, Jenkins RA, Carey JW, Hutcheson R, Thomas KK, Stall RD, et al. Determinants of recent HIV infection among Seattle-area men who have sex with men. Am J Public Health. 2009;99(Suppl 1):S157–64.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Ibanez GE, Purcell DW, Stall R, Parsons JT, Gomez CA. Sexual risk, substance use, and psychological distress in HIV-positive gay and bisexual men who inject drugs. AIDS. 2005;19(Suppl 1):S49–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Johnston LG, Holman A, Dahoma M, Miller LA, Dim E, Mussa M, et al. HIV risk and the overlap of injecting drug use and high-risk sexual behaviours among men who have sex with men in Zanzibar (Unguja), Tanzania. Int J Drug Policy. 2010;21(6):485–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. O’Connell JM, Lampinen TM, Weber AE, Chan K, Miller ML, Schechter MT, et al. Sexual risk profile of young men in Vancouver, British Columbia, who have sex with men and inject drugs. AIDS Behav. 2004;8(1):17–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Funding for this research came from a grant from the National Institutes of Health (R03 DA031072) and cooperative agreements with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (5U62PS000969; 1U1BPS003250; 5U1BPS003250). The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. HIV/STD Program, Public Health-Seattle & King County, 401 Fifth Ave., Suite 1152, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA

    Richard D. Burt & Hanne Thiede

Authors
  1. Richard D. Burt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hanne Thiede
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Richard D. Burt.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOC 52 kb)

Supplementary material 2 (DOC 44 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Burt, R.D., Thiede, H. Evidence for Risk Reduction Among Amphetamine-Injecting Men Who have Sex with Men; Results from National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Surveys in the Seattle Area 2008–2012. AIDS Behav 18, 1998–2008 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0769-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0769-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation