title: Prescription Drug Misuse and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Young Men Who have Sex with Men (YMSM) in Philadelphia.
abstract: This study examined the relationship between prescription drug misuse and sexual risk behaviors (i.e. unprotected sex, increased number of sex partners) in a sample of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Philadelphia. Data come from a cross-sectional study of 18-29 year old YMSM (N = 191) who misused prescription drugs in the past 6 months. Associations were investigated in two regression models: logistic models for unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) and zero-truncated Poisson regression model for number of sex partners. Of 177 participants engaging in anal intercourse in the past 6 months, 57.6 % engaged in UAI. After adjusting for socio-demographic variables and illicit drug use, misuse of prescription pain pills and muscle relaxants remained significantly associated with engaging in receptive UAI. No prescription drug class was associated with a high number of sex partners. This study provides additional evidence that some prescription drugs are associated with sexual risk behaviors among YMSM.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, San Diego State University Graduate School of Public Health, 9245 Sky Park Court, Suite 100, San Diego, CA, 92123, USA, akecojevic@mail.sdsu.edu.
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kecojevic
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Randall L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Sell
authors.forename: Stephen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lankenau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015143:Philadelphia; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult