Club Drug Use in Los Angeles Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

Abstract

Little is known about young men who have sex with men's use of club drugs and the risk factors associated with such use. A structured survey was administered in 2005 to 496 young men who were 18–22 years old (40% were 18–19 years old); self-identified as with a same-sex sexuality (83%), bisexual (16%), and/or had had sex with a man (97%); Caucasian (35%), African American (24%), and Latino of Mexican descent (40%). Subjects were recruited from gay-identified venues in Los Angeles, California, using a venue-based probability sampling design. Descriptive statistics revealed a high prevalence of drug and club drug use. Regression analyses revealed risk factors associated with recent club drug use, including place of residence, religiosity, disclosure of sexuality to family, frequency of attendance at bars/clubs, and involvement in sexual exchange and street economy. Limitations and implications of this research are discussed.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• youth
• gay
• bisexual
• bars
• club drugs
• HIV risk
• risk factors
• YMSM (young men who have sex with men)

Notes

Notes

*The concepts and processes of “risk” and “protective” factors are often noted in the literature, without in any way adequately noting their dimensions (linear, nonlinear), their “demands,” the critical necessary conditions (endogenous and exogenous ones) that are necessary for each of them to operate (begin, continue, become anchored and integrate, change as de facto realities change, cease, etc.) or not to and whether their underpinnings are theory-driven, empirically based, individual and/or systemic stakeholder-bound, based upon “principles of faith,” or what. Editor's note.

1. The term of YMSM is used in this article although it is important to note that the YMSM, as well as the adult MSM populations, are heterogeneous and not homogenous groups.

2. Recruitment extended throughout the course of the year in large part to account and control for any potential seasonal variations that might have created sampling biases.