Illicit Substance Use Among Emerging Adults in the Los Angeles House and Ball Community

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence and correlates of drug use among emerging adult members of the Los Angeles house and ball community. The associations of lifetime and 90-day illicit drug use with sociodemographic and house and ball community factors were assessed using bivariate analyses and logistic regression. Study participants had high rates of illicit substance use when compared to similar populations. Age was related to lifetime illicit substance use (t = 4.66, p < .05). School enrollment was significantly protective against illicit drug use, even after controlling for age, race, and gender (odds ratio = .88, p < .05, 95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.98). School enrollment may be an important opportunity for prevention efforts related to illicit substance use and subsequent accumulating HIV risk within this community.

KEYWORDS:

• house and ball community
• illicit substance use
• YMSM

Notes

*Percentage of total sample.

†Percentage of those who reported ever using that substance.

Note. The χ² or Fisher's exact text was used for categorical variables, and the independent-samples t-test was used for continuous variables.

*p < .05, †p < .01.