Substance Use And Unsafe Sex

Jasso 1

Danny Jasso Mounsey Psychology 100 16 November 2009

1. Clutterbuck, D.J. ET AL. Substance Use and Unsafe Sex Amongst Homosexual Men in

Edinburgh. Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Aids Care (2001), Vol. 13, NO. 4, pp. 527-535. DOI:10.1080/09540120120058058 2. Almost half of the new HIV diagnosed cases of Scotland and the U.K. attributed to

homosexual sexual activity between men. This can be interpreted as the direct result of homosexual men practicing unsafe sex which throughout this study is defined as anal intercourse without the use of a condom with a partner whose HIV status is unknown. Safer sex is defined as all other types of sex including anal sex with a condom or sex with someone whose HIV status is known to coincide with their own. Whether or not safe or unsafe sex occurs is dependent on multiple variables including, situation, partner type, relationship status, age, social class, drug use, and alcohol consumption. Studies which involve drug use related sexual behavior must also take into account something called the psychopharmacological effect, or the perceived effect of a drug on someone by the individual. As well as the social pharmacology which considers the social situation and explains why the same drug may have different effects depending on the environment. Sample size of the experiment is 506 men. 3. The aim of this investigation is to examine the different effects of multiple substances

(not used simultaneously) used before and during sexual activity to determine their relation with individuals unsafe sexual practices in the homosexual community of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Jasso 2 4. To begin the research, scientists decided to focus on homosexual “bar going” men who

were recruited from gay bars, clubs, cafes, and saunas in central Edinburgh. Self reports of sexual behavior done by homosexual men have shown to be reasonably reliable and corroboration between couples recalling sexual encounters was good even when alcohol and/or drugs were used by both parties. A fifteen minute anonymous questionnaire was administered complete with internal validators. Participants were asked about their sexual activity particularly regarding the frequency, the amount of alcohol intake, and recreational drug use if any. Detailed questions were asked regarding knowledge of partner’s HIV status, time and place, and whether or not a condom was used. Participants were also asked to recall sexual encounters within the last three months and a detailed summary of any drugs used or alcohol consumed before their sexual activities. Also taken into account was whether substances were used just before sex or during, less than two hours before sex, or more than two hours but less than twelve hours before sex. The most common substance was alcohol which reported 81% of participants used at least once a week. The second most common substances were marijuana and nitrites. Ecstasy, LSD, Cocaine, and amphetamines were grouped into “party drugs” 5. 479 of 506 provided information regarding their last sexual encounter (in the 3 month

recall period). Of those 479, 42% reported having anal sex. Of those 42%, 6.1% (29 individuals) practiced unsafe sex. When the factor of what they were under the influence of was taken into account, results found that participants who had used nitrites or marijuana less than two hours before sex were more likely to practice unsafe sex. Although no association was found between alcohol and unsafe sex, “party drugs”, marijuana, and nitrites were shown to be associated with unsafe sexual practices.

Jasso 3 6. This is one of a few studies which has associated recreational drugs, particularly

marijuana with unsafe sexual practices which results in harmful repercussions. Marijuana has been described as normalized in younger heterosexual groups. Levels of use of marijuana are around two times higher with homosexuals than heterosexuals. Limitations to the experiment include lack of support for simultaneous use of alcohol and marijuana which is represents a reasonable amount of participants as well as use of nitrites with marijuana.