title: Injecting drug use among gay and bisexual men in Sydney: prevalence and associations with sexual risk practices and HIV and hepatitis C infection.
abstract: Injecting drug use is commonly reported among gay and bisexual men in Australia. We examined the prevalence and covariates of injecting drug use among men participating in the Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey between 2004-06 and 2011. In 2004-06, data was collected about which drugs were injected, while in 2011, data was collected about hepatitis C (HCV) and esoteric sexual practices. In 2004-06, 5.6 % of men reported injecting drugs in the previous 6 months; 3.4 % reported methamphetamine injection and 0.4 % heroin injection. In 2011, men who injected drugs were less likely to be employed full-time, and more likely to be HCV-positive, HIV-positive, to have used party drugs for sex, and to have engaged in esoteric sexual practices. The strong associations between injecting drug use, sexual risk practices and blood-borne virus infection suggests the need for combined sexual health and harm reduction services for gay and bisexual men who inject drugs.
authors: National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. toby.lea@unsw.edu.au
authors: Toby
authors: T
authors: Lea
authors: Limin
authors: L
authors: Mao
authors: Nicky
authors: N
authors: Bath
authors: Garrett
authors: G
authors: Prestage
authors: Iryna
authors: I
authors: Zablotska
authors: John
authors: J
authors: de Wit
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Holt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001244:Association; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult