title: Methamphetamine initiation among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men.
abstract: This study describes factors associated with methamphetamine initiation in a racially diverse sample of 340 methamphetamine-using, HIV-positive gay and bisexual men. A factor analysis was conducted on reasons for initiation, and four factors were identified: to party, to cope, for energy, and to improve self-esteem. Methamphetamine to party accounted for more than one-third of the variance in the factor analysis. Methamphetamine to cope captured almost 9% of the variance, methamphetamine for energy accounted for approximately 8% of the variance, and methamphetamine for self-esteem accounted for approximately 7% of the variance. Regression analyses revealed differential associations between methamphetamine-initiation factors and HIV-risk behaviors. Methamphetamine for self-esteem predicted binge methamphetamine use, while methamphetamine to cope was associated with injecting methamphetamine. Using methamphetamine for energy was associated with number of illicit drugs-used and using methamphetamine to party was associated with having a greater number of sexually transmitted infections. These findings suggest that methamphetamine initiation among gay and bisexual men is multifaceted, which could have implications for intervention development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Shirley J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.forename: Steffanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strathdee
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine