Sexual Risk Behaviors among African Americans Who Use MDMA (Molly/Ecstasy): Implications for HIV Prevention

ABSTRACT

Numerous studies have linked sexual risk taking to recreational use of MDMA. Questions remain, however, regarding the extent and type of sexual risk behaviors that occur among MDMA users, especially African Americans who use the drug. Because the MDMA literature has historically relied on samples with little minority representation, little is known about Black MDMA users and their sexual risk taking. The primary goal of this study, therefore, was to describe patterns of sexual risk behaviors among African Americans who use MDMA. This study used survey data to identify (a) which sexual risk behaviors occurred among Black MDMA users and (b) the prevalence of each behavior. Qualitative interview data are also presented to contextualize the role that MDMA and the club/nightlife environment might play in contributing to these behaviors. Results show that sexual risk taking (e.g., sex without a condom, “hooking up,” sex on MDMA, and group sex) was prevalent and that the mind-set and context in which MDMA was consumed are contributing factors. The current study adds to the limited amount of data on African Americans who use MDMA and is a step toward better understanding the link between MDMA and sexual risk taking. These data can be used to inform social workers in their efforts to prevent HIV in this population.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• prevention
• risk reduction
• MDMA
• ecstasy
• molly
• African Americans

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by the University of South Florida (USF) through a seed grant program. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of USF.