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AIDS Care
Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
Volume 21, 2009 - Issue 9
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ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Methamphetamine initiation among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men

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Pages 1176-1184 | Received 19 Jun 2008, Published online: 07 Oct 2009
 

Abstract

This study describes factors associated with methamphetamine initiation in a racially diverse sample of 340 methamphetamine-using, HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. A factor analysis was conducted on reasons for initiation, and four factors were identified: to party, to cope, for energy, and to improve self-esteem. Methamphetamine to party accounted for more than one-third of the variance in the factor analysis. Methamphetamine to cope captured almost 9% of the variance, methamphetamine for energy accounted for approximately 8% of the variance, and methamphetamine for self-esteem accounted for approximately 7% of the variance. Regression analyses revealed differential associations between methamphetamine-initiation factors and HIV-risk behaviors. Methamphetamine for self-esteem predicted binge methamphetamine use, while methamphetamine to cope was associated with injecting methamphetamine. Using methamphetamine for energy was associated with number of illicit drugs-used and using methamphetamine to party was associated with having a greater number of sexually transmitted infections. These findings suggest that methamphetamine initiation among gay and bisexual men is multifaceted, which could have implications for intervention development.

Acknowledgements

Support for this work was provided by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (Grant No. 1 R01 DA021115-01, “Behavior change and maintenance intervention for HIV+ MSM methamphetamine users,” and Supplemental Award 3 R01 DA021115-02S1).

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