Sexualised drug use among gay and bisexual men in New Zealand: Findings from a national cross‐sectional study
Year: 2023
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: New Zealand has a unique illicit drug market, gay cultures and drug use patterns. Minimal attention has been given to how drug use shapes sexual practice, especially in the era of biomedical HIV prevention among gay and bisexual men (GBM). METHODS: An online cross-sectional study of GBM ('Flux NZ') adapted from an Australian study was undertaken to explore connections between drug use, sexual practice, health and community. We describe drug use patterns, then identify three discrete groups determined by intensity of recent (past 6 months) sexual practice: no recent sex, recent sex and recent sexualised drug use. We examine factors associated with these groups and identify factors independently predicting sexualised drug use. RESULTS: Of 739 participants, almost a third had engaged in group sex (29%), 17.5% were taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), 6.5% were HIV positive. Overall, 59.5% had recently used illicit drugs (16.9% methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 6% methamphetamine, 3.3% gamma-hydroxybutyrate acid, 1.4% ketamine). Sexualised drug use was common (35.7%). Those engaged in sexualised drug use were connected to gay community and had a high uptake of biomedical HIV prevention. Independent predictors of sexualised drug use included being sexually adventurous, knowing their HIV status, having more than 10 recent sexual partners, engaging in group sex and sex at a sex-on-site venue. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Many GBM engaging in sexualised drug use manage HIV transmission risks through regular testing, PrEP and HIV treatment. HIV prevention efforts should target GBM with less intensive sexual behaviour but who may be at comparatively higher risk of HIV transmission.
Source: Drug and Alcohol Review
DOI: 10.1111/dar.13762
Authors: Samuel Andrews, Mohamed Hammoud, Garrett Prestage, David Newcombe, Peter Saxton
Institutions: University of Auckland, UNSW Sydney, Kirby Institute
Language: English
Topic: HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,220
OpenAlex ID: W4388007936