title: High rates of club drug use and risky sexual practices among Hispanic men who have sex with men in Miami, Florida.
abstract: This study measured use of club drugs among 262 Hispanic men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited at community venues in Miami-Dade County, Florida in 2001. More than 50% of men used club drugs, and 36% used them in the last 3 months. Lifetime and 3-month rates were: ecstasy (36% and 20%), cocaine (34% and 12%), amyl nitrates (28% and 9%), and crystal methamphetamine (20% and 15%). Thirty-six percent had used two or more drugs (polydrug use) in their lifetime and 20% reported polydrug use in the last 3 months. Club drug users had significantly more sex partners in the last 12 months than nonclub drug users. High rates (35%) of unprotected anal sex in the last 3 months were reported by both groups. Men who reported polydrug use in the last 3 months were significantly more likely than men who used a single club drug to have had sex under the influence of club drugs (83% vs. 57%; X2=7.4, p=0.006). At the multivariate level, a significant association between preference for use of English and lifetime club drug use emerged. Effective interventions to reduce club drug use and risky sex for Hispanic MSM are needed.
authors.affiliation: College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33328-2018, USA. mariafer@nsu.nova.edu
authors.forename: M Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: G Stephen
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Leah M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: Jose B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Collazo
authors.forename: Nilda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perrino
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rehbein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011998:Recreation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D014505:Urban Population