Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Methamphetamine Use Trends among Street-Recruited Gay and Bisexual Males, from 1999 to 2007

  • Published:
Journal of Urban Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Street outreach encounters were used to collect data of reported alcohol and other drug use among gay and bisexual males (N = 11,375) in Hollywood and West Hollywood, California over a 9-year period from January 1999 to December 2007. Analyses were conducted to assess demographic data, self-reported HIV status, and frequency of alcohol and other drug use. Participants averaged 32.3 (SD = 7.7) years, slightly over half were Caucasian/white (53%), and most were identified as gay (85.8%). Self-reported HIV seroprevalence was 20.7%. Observations began January to June 1999, with 46.0% reporting recent methamphetamine use, and ended July to December 2007, with 24.8% reporting recent use of methamphetamine. Percent reporting methamphetamine use peaked in the first half of 2002 at 53% and dipped to a low of 11.1% in the second half of 2006. Findings demonstrate the common use of methamphetamine over the observation period in this high-risk group even in the face of a recent decline in reported use. These data also indicate the need for ongoing methamphetamine abuse and HIV-prevention interventions in this particular high-risk population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

FIGURE 1

References

  1. Thiede H, Valleroy LA, MacKellar DA, et al. Regional patterns and correlates of substance use among young men who have sex with men in 7 US urban areas. Am J Public Health. 2003;93:1915–1921.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Halkitis PN, Palamar JJ, Mukherjee PP. Poly-club-drug use among gay and bisexual men: a longitudinal analysis. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2007;89:153–160 doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.12.028.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Stall R, Paul JP, Greenwood G, et al. Alcohol use, drug use and alcohol related problems among men who have sex with men: The Urban Men’s Study. Addiction. 2001;96:1589–1601 doi:10.1046/j.1360-0443.2001.961115896.x.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report; 16. Atlanta: GA. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/stats/hasrlink.htm. Accessed on February 15, 2008.

  5. Molitor F, Traux SR, Ruiz JD, Sun RK. Association of methamphetamine use during sex with risky sexual behaviors and HIV infection among non-injection drug users. West J Med. 1998;168:93–97.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Reback CJ. The social construction of a gay drug: methamphetamine use among gay and bisexual males in Los Angeles. 1997. Available at: http://www.uclaisap.org/documents/final-report. Accessed on June 27, 2007.

  7. Shoptaw S, Reback CJ. Associations between methamphetamine use and HIV infection in men who have sex with men: a model for guiding public policy. J Urban Health. 2006;83:1151–1157 doi:10.1007/s11524-006-9119-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Semple SJ, Patterson TL, Grant I. Motivations associated with methamphetamine use among HIV+ men who have sex with men. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2002;22:149–156 doi:10.1016/S0740-5472(02)00223-4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lewis LA, Ross MW. The gay dance party culture in Sydney: a qualitative analysis. J Homosex. 1995;29:41–70 doi:10.1300/J082v29n01_03.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Mansergh G, Colfax GN, Marks G, Rader M, Guzman R, Buchbinder S. The circuit party men’s health survey: findings and implications for gay and bisexual men. Am J Public Health. 2001;91:953–958.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Mattison AM, Ross MW, Wolfson T, Franklin D, HNRC Group. Circuit party attendance, club drug use, and unsafe sex in gay men. J Subst Abuse. 2001;13:119–126 doi:10.1016/S0899-3289(01)00060-8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Los Angeles County, Department of Health Services, HIV Epidemiology Program, HIV/AIDS semi-annual surveillance summary. 2005.

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy, contracts #H204213, #H211853, #H700861, and the City of West Hollywood, Department of Human Services, Social Services Division. The authors thank Karina Kortbein, Ann Reiner, M.P.H., Jane Rohde, M.P.H., and Mely D. Silverio, Ph.D. for their statistical support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cathy J. Reback.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reback, C.J., Shoptaw, S. & Grella, C.E. Methamphetamine Use Trends among Street-Recruited Gay and Bisexual Males, from 1999 to 2007. J Urban Health 85, 874–879 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-008-9326-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-008-9326-3

Keywords

Navigation