Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Developmental Change in the Relationship Between Alcohol and Drug Use Before Sex and Sexual Risk Behavior in Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
AIDS and Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are the only group in which rates of new HIV infections are increasing in the United States. Alcohol and drug use have been linked to HIV risk, but evidence suggests that these associations may change across development and by relationship type. Data were taken from an analytic sample of 114 YMSM enrolled in a longitudinal study of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth with 4 years of participant follow-up. For the sample as a whole, alcohol use before sex was not associated with sexual risk, but drug use before sex was positively associated with sexual risk. A positive association between alcohol use and sexual risk emerged across development, and this association was stronger in serious relationships relative to casual sex partners. The positive association between drug use before sex and sexual risk decreased across development and was stronger in serious relationships. We discuss the need for addressing substance use before sex in dyadic interventions with YMSM.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and dependent areas, 2011. HIV Surveillance Report. 2013; 23.

  2. Prejean J, Song R, Hernandez A, et al. Estimated HIV incidence in the United States, 2006–2009. PLoS One. 2011;6:e17502.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Mustanski B, Van Wagenen A, Birkett M, Eyster S, Corliss H. Identifying sexual orientation health disparities in adolescents: methodological approach for analysis of a pooled YRBS dataset. Am J Public Health. 2014;104:211–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Savin-Williams RC. Who’s gay? Does it matter? Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2006;13:630–7.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Jessor R. Risk behavior in adolescence: a psychosocial framework for understanding and action. Dev Rev. 1992;12:374–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Arnett JJ. Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. Am Psychol. 2000;55:469–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: summary of national findings. Rockville: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance: United States, 2011. MMWR. 2012;61:1–162.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Steinberg L. A social neuroscience perspective on adolescent risk-taking. Dev Rev. 2008;28:78–106.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Weinhardt LS, Carey MP. Does alcohol lead to sexual risk behavior? Findings from event-level research. Annu Rev Sex Res. 2000;11:125–57.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Cooper ML. Alcohol use and risky sexual behavior among college students and youth: evaluating the evidence. J Stud Alcohol Suppl. 2002;14:101–17.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Leigh BC. Alcohol and condom use: a meta-analysis of event-level studies. Sex Transm Dis. 2002;29:476–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Fortenberry JD. Adolescent substance use and sexually transmitted diseases risk: a review. J Adolesc Health. 1995;16:304–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Woolf SE, Maisto SA. Alcohol use and risk of HIV infection among men who have sex with men. AIDS Behav. 2009;13:757–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Mustanski BS, Newcomb ME, Du Bois SN, Garcia SC, Grov C. HIV in young men who have sex with men: a review of epidemiology, risk and protective factors, and interventions. Annu Rev Sex Res. 2011;48:218–53.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Vosburgh HW, Mansergh G, Sullivan PS, Purcell DW. A review of the literature on event-level substance use and sexual risk behavior among men who have sex with men. AIDS Behav. 2012;16:1394–410.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Drumright LN, Patterson TL, Strathdee SA. Club drugs as causal risk factors for HIV acquisition among men who have sex with men: a review. Subst Use Misuse. 2006;41:1551–601.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Duncan SC, Strycker LA, Duncan TE. Exploring associations in developmental trends of adolescent substance use and risky sexual behavior in a high-risk population. J Behav Med. 1999;22:21–34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Meyer IH. Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychol Bull. 2003;129:674–97.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. Hatzenbuehler ML. How does sexual minority stigma “get under the skin”? A psychological mediation framework. Psychol Bull. 2009;135:707–30.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Newcomb ME, Heinz AJ, Mustanski B. Examining risk and protective factors for alcohol use in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth: a longitudinal multilevel analysis. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2012;73:783–93.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Newcomb ME, Heinz AJ, Birkett M, Mustanski B. A longitudinal examination of risk and protective factors for cigarette smoking among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. J Adolesc Health. 2013;. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.10.208.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Hatzenbuehler ML, Nolen-Hoeksema S, Erickson SJ. Minority stress predictors of HIV risk behavior, substance use, and depressive symptoms: results from a prospective study of bereaved gay men. Health Psychol. 2008;27:455–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Reed E, Prado G, Matsumoto A, Amaro H. Alcohol and drug use and related consequences among gay, lesbian and bisexual college students: role of experiencing violence, feeling safe on campus, and perceived stress. Addict Behav. 2010;35:168–71.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Mustanski B, Andrews R, Herrick A, Stall R, Schnarrs PW. A syndemic of psychosocial health disparities and associations with risk for attempting suicide among young sexual minority men. Am J Public Health. 2014;104:287–94.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Blashill AJ, Safren SA. Sexual orientation and anabolic–androgenic steroids in US adolescent boys. Pediatrics. 2014;133(3):469–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Drasin H, Beals KP, Elliott MN, et al. Age cohort differences in the developmental milestones of gay men. J Homosex. 2008;54:381–99.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Dube EM, Savin-Williams RC. Sexual identity development among ethnic sexual-minority male youths. Dev Psychol. 1999;35:1389–98.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Grov C, Bimbi DS, Nanin JE, Parsons JT. Race, ethnicity, gender, and generational factors associated with the coming-out process among lesbian, and bisexual individuals. J Sex Res. 2006;43:115–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Eccles TA, Sayegh MA, Fortenberry JD, Zimet GD. More normal than not: a qualitative assessment of the developmental experiences of gay male youth. J Adolesc Health. 2004;35(425):e411–28.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Rosario M, Schrimshaw EW, Hunter J. Predicting different patterns of sexual identity development over time among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: a cluster analytic approach. Am J Community Psychol. 2008;42:266–82.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Rosario M, Schrimshaw EW, Hunter J. Different patterns of sexual identity development over time: implications for the psychological adjustment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths. J Sex Res. 2011;48:3–15.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Garofalo R, Wolf RC, Kessel S, Palfrey SJ, DuRant RH. The association between health risk behaviors and sexual orientation among a school-based sample of adolescents. Pediatrics. 1998;101:895–902.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Hatzenbuehler ML, Corbin WR, Fromme K. Trajectories and determinants of alcohol use among LGB young adults and their heterosexual peers: results from a prospective study. Dev Psychol. 2008;44:81–90.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Marshal MP, Friedman MS, Stall R, Thompson AL. Individual trajectories of substance use in lesbian, gay and bisexual youth and heterosexual youth. Addiction. 2009;104:974–81.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Corliss HL, Rosario M, Wypij D, et al. Sexual orientation and drug use in a longitudinal cohort study of US adolescents. Addict Behav. 2010;35:517–21.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  37. Kelly BC, Parsons JT, Wells BE. Prevalence and predictors of club drug use among club-going young adults in New York city. J Urban Health. 2006;83:884–95.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Tucker JS, Ellickson PL, Klein DJ. Understanding differences in substance use among bisexual and heterosexual young women. Womens Health Issues. 2008;18:387–98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Newcomb ME, Birkett M, Corliss HL, Mustanski B. Illicit drug use disparities in sexual minority adolescents: examining sexual orientation, gender, and racial differences in a sample of US high school students. Am J Public Health. 2014;104:304–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Brook DW, Brook JS, Zhang C, Cohen P, Whiteman M. Drug use and the risk of major depressive disorder, alcohol dependence, and substance use disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002;59:1039–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. McGue M, Iacono WG, Legrand LN, Elkins I. Origins and consequences of age at first drink. II. Familial risk and heritability. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2001;25:1166–73.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Agrawal A, Grant JD, Waldron M, et al. Risk for initiation of substance use as a function of age of onset of cigarette, alcohol and cannabis use: findings in a Midwestern female twin cohort. Prev Med. 2006;43:125–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. DuRant RH, Smith JA, Kreiter SR, Krowchuk DP. The relationship between early age of onset of initial substance use and engaging in multiple health risk behaviors among young adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153:286–91.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Mustanski B. Moderating effects of age on the alcohol and sexual risk taking association: an online daily diary study of men who have sex with men. AIDS Behav. 2008;12:118–26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Newcomb ME, Clerkin EM, Mustanski B. Sensation seeking moderates the effects of alcohol and drug use prior to sex on sexual risk in young men who have sex with men. AIDS Behav. 2011;15:565–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Newcomb ME. Moderating effect of age on the association between alcohol use and sexual risk in MSM: evidence for elevated risk among younger MSM. AIDS Behav. 2013;17:1746–54.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Morrison DM, Gillmore MR, Hoppe MJ, et al. Adolescent drinking and sex: findings from a daily diary study. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2003;35:162–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Vanable PA, McKirnan DJ, Buchbinder SP, et al. Alcohol use and high-risk sexual behavior among men who have sex with men: the effects of consumption level and partner type. Health Psychol. 2004;23:525–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Clatts MC, Goldsamt LA, Yi H. Club drug use among young men who have sex with men in NYC: a preliminary epidemiological profile. Subst Use Misuse. 2005;40:1317–30.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Clatts MC, Goldsamt LA, Yi H. Drug and sexual risk in four men who have sex with men populations: evidence for a sustained HIV epidemic in New York City. J Urban Health. 2005;82:i9–17.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  51. Garofalo R, Mustanski BS, McKirnan DJ, Herrick A, Donenberg GR. Methamphetamine and young men who have sex with men: understanding patterns and correlates of use and the association with HIV-related sexual risk. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161:591–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Stueve A, O’Donnell L, Duran R, San Doval A, Geier J. Being high and taking sexual risks: findings from a multisite survey of urban young men who have sex with men. AIDS Educ Prev. 2002;14:482–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Waldo CR, McFarland W, Katz MH, MacKellar D, Valleroy LA. Very young gay and bisexual men are at risk for HIV infection: the San Francisco bay area young men’s survey II. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2000;24:168–74.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Tonry M, Ohlin LE, Farrington DP. Human development and criminal behavior: new ways of advancing knowledge. New York: Springer; 1991.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  55. Heckathorn DD. Respondent-driven sampling: a new approach to the study of hidden populations. Soc Probl. 1997;44:174–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Mustanski B, Starks TJ, Newcomb ME. Methods for the design and analysis of relationship and partner effects on sexual health. Arch Sex Behav. 2014;43:21–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Raudenbush SW, Bryk AS, Cheong YF, Congdon RT, du Toit M. HLM 7: Hierarchical linear and nonlinear modeling. Chicago: Scientific Software International; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Drumright LN, Little SJ, Strathdee SA, et al. Unprotected anal intercourse and substance use among men who have sex with men with recent HIV infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2006;43:344–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Sullivan PS, Salazar L, Buchbinder S, Sanchez TH. Estimating the proportion of HIV transmissions from main sex partners among men who have sex with men in five US cities. AIDS. 2009;23:1153–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (R21MH095413; PI: Mustanski), an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention grant (PI: Mustanski), the William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Award (PI: Mustanski), and the David Bohnett Foundation (PI: Mustanski). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2700, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA

    Michael E. Newcomb & Brian Mustanski

Authors
  1. Michael E. Newcomb
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Brian Mustanski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael E. Newcomb.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Newcomb, M.E., Mustanski, B. Developmental Change in the Relationship Between Alcohol and Drug Use Before Sex and Sexual Risk Behavior in Young Men Who Have Sex with Men. AIDS Behav 18, 1981–1990 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0766-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0766-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation