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Marijuana Use and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in California

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Abstract

Young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and continue to experience higher rates of new HIV infections when compared to other population groups. As part of the Peer Promotion of Wellness and Enhanced Linkage to Resources Project, we examined problem marijuana use and the overall sexual risk profile of 250 YBMSM. Eighty percent reported prior use of marijuana in their lifetime (n = 200). Among those, problem marijuana use was correlated with problem use of alcohol (r = 0.51, p < 0.001) and other drugs (r = 0.29, p < 0.001); lower household income (r = − .22, p < .01); homelessness (r = 0.15, p < 0.05); incarceration (r = 0.16, p < 0.05); exchanging sex for money, drugs, or shelter (r = 0.18, p < 0.05); having sex with someone known or suspected of having HIV and/or an STI (r = 0.20, p < 0.01); having sex with someone known or suspected of being an injector (r = 0.24, p < 0.01); and having unprotected sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). The complex relationship between marijuana and sexual risk behavior was examined while accounting for the possible moderating effects of alcohol or other drugs. Problem marijuana, alcohol, and other drug use each made unique contributions to predicting risky sex behavior. A significant marijuana and other drug interaction was found to predict sexual risk behaviors. Future efforts should include holistic intervention approaches for YBMSM that consider factors facilitating high-risk sexual behaviors.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge and thank the men who participated in the PPOWER Project. We are also grateful for the significant contributions made by our community partners (Behavioral Health Services, Inc., St. Mary Medical Center CARE Program and The LGBTQ Center of Long Beach) and all the staff of the PPOWER Project and the Center for Health Equity Research.

Funding

This work was supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) under award number SP021340. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of SAMHSA.

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  1. Center for Health Equity Research, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., FO5-120, Long Beach, CA, 90840, USA

    Laura Hoyt D’Anna, Kyle Chang & Jefferson Wood

  2. School of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, USA

    Thomas Alex Washington

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  1. Laura Hoyt D’Anna
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Correspondence to Laura Hoyt D’Anna.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the California State University, Long Beach (16-376, 17-391, and 18-437) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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D’Anna, L.H., Chang, K., Wood, J. et al. Marijuana Use and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in California. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 8, 1522–1532 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00915-3

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