Ethnic differences in substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and psychosocial factors in a sample of heterosexual methamphetamine users.
Ethnic differences in measures of substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and psychosocial factors (depression, stigma, self-esteem) were examined in a sample of 402 heterosexual methamphetamine users (55.0% Caucasian, 29.9% African American, 15.1% Latino) who participated in a sexual risk reduction intervention between June 2001 and March 2005 in San Diego, California. Participants were primarily male (67%) and noncollege graduates (72%) and belonged to the low-income group (66%). African Americans were older when they first used methamphetamine and had used fewer grams in the past 30 days; Caucasians were more likely to inject. A larger percentage of African Americans reported anonymous sex partners in the past 2 months. African Americans reported lower levels of social stigma, and Caucasians reported lower self-esteem. Limitations and potential applications of these findings to prevention and treatment programs for ethnic minority populations are discussed.
Semple
Shirley J
SJ
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Amaro
Hortensia
H
Strathdee
Steffanie A
SA
Zians
Jim
J
Patterson
Thomas L
TL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
D008694:Methamphetamine