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Prescription Drug Misuse and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Young Men Who have Sex with Men (YMSM) in Philadelphia

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Abstract

This study examined the relationship between prescription drug misuse and sexual risk behaviors (i.e. unprotected sex, increased number of sex partners) in a sample of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Philadelphia. Data come from a cross-sectional study of 18–29 year old YMSM (N = 191) who misused prescription drugs in the past 6 months. Associations were investigated in two regression models: logistic models for unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) and zero-truncated Poisson regression model for number of sex partners. Of 177 participants engaging in anal intercourse in the past 6 months, 57.6 % engaged in UAI. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables and illicit drug use, misuse of prescription pain pills and muscle relaxants remained significantly associated with engaging in receptive UAI. No prescription drug class was associated with a high number of sex partners. This study provides additional evidence that some prescription drugs are associated with sexual risk behaviors among YMSM.

Resumen

El objectivo de nuestro trabajo fue evaluar el uso inapropiado de medicamentos con prescripcion facultativa con conductas sexuales de alto riesgo (coito anal sin proteccion– UAI—y alta frecuencia de parejas sexuales) en hombres jovenes (18-29 años) que reportaban tener contacto sexual con otros hombres (YSMM) y abuso de medicamentos en los ultimos 6 meses. 191 sujetos fueron identificados en una muestra transversal tomada en el area de Philadelphia. Utilizamos dos modelos de regresion para determinar la asociacion: modelos logisticos para UAI y un modelo Poisson para frecuencia de parejas sexuales. 177 sujetos reportaron coito anal y de ellos el 57.1 % fue sin proteccion (UAI). Luego del ajuste de variables socio-demograficos y uso de drogas ilicitas, el abuso de medicamentos analgesicos y relajantes de musculos de prescription estaban altamente asociados con de UAI receptivo. Sin embargo, no hubo asociacion con el numero de parejas sexuales en la muestra. Los resultados muestran evidencia adicional que el abuso de medicamentos de prescripcion entre YSMM esta asociado a conductas sexuales de alto riesgo.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by funding from the National Institute of Drug Use (NIDA, Grant No. R36DA034543, PI: Kecojevic). NIDA had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, writing the manuscript, or the decision to submit the paper for publication. The authors gratefully acknowledge Jonathan Newman for his help during recruitment of study participants, and Dr. Honorio Silva for his help with translating abstract into Spanish language. We would also like to acknowledge the young men who participated in this study, and all of LGBT community organizations in Philadelphia which allowed recruitment at their premises.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, San Diego State University Graduate School of Public Health, 9245 Sky Park Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA

    Aleksandar Kecojevic

  2. Department of Psychology, Temple University, 1701 N. 13th Street, Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Karol Silva

  3. Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University School of Public Health, 3215 Market Street, 4th floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Randall L. Sell & Stephen E. Lankenau

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  1. Aleksandar Kecojevic
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  2. Karol Silva
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Correspondence to Aleksandar Kecojevic.

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Kecojevic, A., Silva, K., Sell, R.L. et al. Prescription Drug Misuse and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Young Men Who have Sex with Men (YMSM) in Philadelphia. AIDS Behav 19, 847–856 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0898-5

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