title: Binge use and sex and drug use behaviors among HIV(-), heterosexual methamphetamine users in San Diego.
abstract: This study identified sociodemographic factors, drug using practices, sexual behaviors, and motivational factors associated with binge (a period of uninterrupted) methamphetamine (MA) use among heterosexual MA users.
  
  
  METHODS
  The FASTLANE study provided cross-sectional data collected by audio computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) between June 2001 and August 2004 from 451 HIV-negative MA users in San Diego, California, USA who had engaged in unprotected sex and used MA in the previous two months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample was 67.8% male, 49.4% Caucasian, 26.8% African-American, and 12.8% Hispanic with a mean age of 36.6 years; 183 (40.5%) reported binge use in the past 2 months. Compared with non-binge users, binge users of MA were more likely to report risky drug use and sex behaviors and differed in motivations to initiate and currently use MA. The final logistic regression model for binge use included more days of MA use in the last month, ever treated for MA use, injection drug use, higher Beck Depression Inventory score, "experimentation" as a motivation for initiating MA use, and engaging in sex marathons while high on MA. HIV prevention efforts should differentiate and address these differences in motivations for MA use and the associated HIV-risk sex and drug use behaviors as key targets for effective intervention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0680, USA.
authors.forename: W Susan
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Garfein
authors.forename: Shirley J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.forename: Steffanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Strathdee
authors.forename: James K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Zians
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*