Intensive sex partying with gamma-hydroxybutyrate: factors associated with using gamma-hydroxybutyrate for chemsex among Australian gay and bisexual men – results from the Flux Study

Background Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) use among gay and bisexual men (GBM) has increased in recent years. It is commonly cited as a sexual-enhancement drug. There is, however, little evidence for factors associated with GHB use or the consequences of its use among GBM. Aim: Factors associated with GHB use, its relationship to sexual risk behaviour, and the contexts, consequences, and motivations for its use were examined. Methods: The Following Lives Undergoing Change (Flux) Study is an online prospective observational study of Australian GBM. At baseline, a total of 3190 GBM provided details about their use of GHB. Data on frequency, methods, pleasures and consequences of their drug use, alongside key demographic variables were collected. Results: Mean age was 35.0 years. One in five men (19.5%) had a history of GHB use and 5.4% reported use within the past 6 months, with 2.7% having used it monthly or more frequently. Overdose had been experienced by 14.7%, this was more common among men who used GHB at least monthly. Being HIV-positive, having more gay friends, greater social engagement with gay men who use drugs, a greater number of sexual partners, group sex, and condomless anal intercourse with casual partners were independently associated with GHB use in the past 6 months. Greater social engagement with gay men who use drugs and group sex were independently associated with at least monthly use. More frequent GHB use was independently associated with experiencing overdose among GHB users. Conclusion: Most men used GHB infrequently and it was often used explicitly to enhance sexual experiences, often in the context of intensive sex partying. Men who used GHB frequently, were at greater risk of overdose and other negative health outcomes. GHB use should be considered alongside other drugs that have been implicated in sexual risk behaviour and HIV transmission. Harm-reduction interventions need to consider the particular impact of frequent GHB use.

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Attachment orientation and sexual risk behaviour among young Black gay and bisexual men

Psychology and Sexuality ◽

10.1080/19419899.2016.1168312 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 177-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Stephanie H. Cook ◽

Daphne C. Watkins ◽

Benjamin J. Calebs ◽

Patrick A. Wilson

Keyword(s):

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Attachment Orientation ◽

And Bisexual

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Seeking sex online: social and sexual risk factors among adolescent and young gay and bisexual men

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh14229 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 217 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Guy Shilo ◽

Zohar Mor

Keyword(s):

Identity Formation ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Formation Processes ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Risk Behaviours ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviours

Background With the increased use of the Internet to seek sex, research has documented its associated sexual risk behaviours, especially among gay and bisexual men. Only a few studies to date have been conducted among adolescent and young men, and these have focussed on behavioural components to do with seeking sex online, without considering the role of same-sex identity formation processes. The current study aimed to identify behavioural and identity formation variables associated with seeking sex online among adolescents and youth. Methods: A web sampling of young Israeli gay and bisexual men aged 12–30 years (n = 445) was used to assess their seeking sex online characteristics, mental health, sexual risk behaviours, substance use, same-sex disclosure and acceptance and coping resources. Results: Nearly half of the sample used the Internet to seek sex, which was correlated with substance use and sexual risk behaviour. Young adults seek for sex online more commonly than adolescents. Higher numbers of: sexual partners, level of outness, levels of friends support and stronger connectedness to the gay community predicted seeking sex online. Seeking sex online was found to be more of predictor for sexual risk behaviour than any other predictor. Conclusions: Seeking sex online is influenced by the gay sub-culture climate and peer group relationships, rather than by social stressor variables related to sexual orientation formation processes, or by the subject’s general mental health condition. These results underscore the possible risks pertaining to seeking sex among gay and bisexual men and the possible use for this venue to convey safe-sex messages to adolescents and young adults.

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Experiences of homonegativity and sexual risk behaviour in a sample of Latino gay and bisexual men

Culture Health & Sexuality ◽

10.1080/13691050903089961 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 73-85 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Nadine Nakamura ◽

Maria Cecilia Zea

Keyword(s):

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

And Bisexual

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Effect of age on the association between recreational drug use and sexual risk behaviour: a cross-sectional observational analysis

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh20115 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 538

Author(s):

Arthur Wong ◽

Garrett P. Prestage ◽

I. Mary Poynten ◽

Fengyi Jin ◽

Richard J. Hillman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Recreational Drug ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sexual Behaviours ◽

Recreational Drug Use ◽

And Bisexual

Recreational drug use (RDU) among gay and bisexual men (GBM) is associated with higher-risk sexual behaviours, however this has not been well defined among older GBM. We investigated the association between RDU and sexual behaviours among older GBM in Sydney, Australia. 617 GBM aged 35–79 years self-reported their RDU in the past 6 months and sexual behaviours. Age-stratified univariable associations between RDU and behaviour were examined. GBM aged 35–44 years were the most likely to report RDU, with rates decreasing with increasing age (Ptrend < 0.001). Associations between RDU and higher-risk sexual behaviours were most consistently found among GBM aged 35–54 years.

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Baseline characteristics of gay and bisexual men in a HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis demonstration project with equity quotas in Auckland, New Zealand

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh18056 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 47 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Peter J. W. Saxton ◽

Sunita Azariah ◽

Richard A. Franklin ◽

Rose F. Forster ◽

Suzanne F. Werder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Demonstration Project ◽

Receptive Anal Intercourse ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Baseline Characteristics ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Background In New Zealand, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) should target gay and bisexual men (GBM), and equity is an important principle. Baseline characteristics of GBM offered PrEP in a demonstration project with an enrolment quota of 50% non-Europeans are described. Methods: An open-label, single-arm treatment evaluation study design (‘NZPrEP’) was used. The settings were four publicly funded sexual health clinics in Auckland in 2017. The study population was 150 GBM recruited from clinics, community sources and social media. Participants self-completed an online questionnaire about PrEP awareness, attitudes and sexual risk behaviour in the last 3 months. Baseline characteristics are described and examined to determine whether these were associated with PrEP initiation status (self-referral vs doctor/nurse recommendation). Results: In total, 150 GBM of whom half (52%) were non-European, including 21.3% Maori, 19.3% Asian and 8.7% Pacific, were enrolled into the study. Two-thirds (65.3%) self-referred for PrEP and one-third (34.7%) were recommended PrEP by the doctor/nurse. Participants reported a high number of male condomless receptive anal intercourse partners (MenAICLR) (median 3, range 0–50), with 10% reporting 10 or more MenAICLR and 45.3% reporting group sex. In the previous year, 65.3% had a sexually transmissible infection (STI); 18% had rectal chlamydia or gonorrhoea at enrolment. Almost half (47.7%) had recently used drugs with sex, including 8.1% who used methamphetamine. Participants recommended PrEP had lower education, lived less centrally and had a higher STI prevalence than PrEP self-referrers, but their risk behaviour was similar. Conclusions: Early PrEP adopters in New Zealand have high HIV risk. Demonstration projects should consider equity mechanisms so that minorities can participate meaningfully.

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Do differences in age between sexual partners affect sexual risk behaviour among Australian gay and bisexual men?

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2012-050947 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 89 (8) ◽

pp. 653-658 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Garrett Prestage ◽

Fengyi Jin ◽

Benjamin Bavinton ◽

Stephen Andrew Scott ◽

Michael Hurley

Keyword(s):

Sexual Risk ◽

Risk Behaviour ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Sexual Partners ◽

Sexual Risk Behaviour ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

And Bisexual

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Combination prevention and HIV: a cross-sectional community survey of gay and bisexual men in London, October to December 2016

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/1560-7917.es.2019.24.25.1800312 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (25) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Louise Logan ◽

Ibidun Fakoya ◽

Alison Howarth ◽

Gary Murphy ◽

Anne M Johnson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hiv Testing ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Transmitted Infection ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Combination Prevention ◽

Factors Associated ◽

The Past ◽

Increased Risk ◽

And Bisexual

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at risk of HIV and are an important population to monitor and ameliorate combination prevention efforts. Aim To estimate HIV prevalence and identify factors associated with frequent HIV testing (≥ 2 HIV tests in the last year) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among MSM in London. Methods For this cross-sectional study, MSM recruited from 22 social venues provided oral-fluid samples for anonymous HIV antibody (Ab) testing and completed a questionnaire. Factors associated with frequent HIV testing and PrEP use were identified through logistic regression. Results Of 767 men recruited, 545 provided an eligible oral specimen. Among these, 38 MSM (7.0%) were anti-HIV positive including five (13.2%; 5/38) who reported their status as negative. Condomless anal sex within the previous 3 months was reported by 60.1% (412/685) men. Frequent HIV testing was associated with, in the past year, a reported sexually transmitted infection (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.66–9.58) or ≥ 2 casual condomless partners (AOR 2–4 partners: 3.65 (95% CI: 1.87–7.10); AOR 5–10 partners: 3.34 (95% CI: 1.32–8.49). Age ≥ 35 years was related to less frequent HIV testing (AOR 35–44 years: 0.34 (95% CI: 0.16–0.72); AOR ≥ 45 years: 0.29 (95% CI: 0.12–0.69). PrEP use in the past year was reported by 6.2% (46/744) of MSM and associated with ≥ 2 casual condomless sex partners (AOR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.17–6.98) or chemsex (AOR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.09–4.91). Conclusion This bio-behavioural study of MSM found high rates of behaviours associated with increased risk of HIV transmission. Combination prevention, including frequent HIV testing and use of PrEP, remains crucial in London.

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Multi-Dimensional Factors Associated with Illegal Substance Use Among Gay and Bisexual Men in Taiwan

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16224476 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (22) ◽

pp. 4476 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Dian-Jeng Li ◽

Shiou-Lan Chen ◽

Cheng-Fang Yen

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Stepwise Logistic Regression ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

And Bisexual

Illegal substance use in sexual minorities is an important health issue worldwide. The present cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the multi-dimensional factors associated with illegal substance use among gay and bisexual men in Taiwan. This questionnaire-survey study recruited 500 gay or bisexual men aged between 20 and 25 years. Their experiences of using eight kinds of illegal substances in the preceding month were collected. Their previous experiences of homophobic bullying, satisfaction with academic performance, truancy, perceived family and peer support in childhood and adolescence, and social-demographic characteristics, were also collected. Potential factors associated with illegal substance use were identified using univariate logistic regression, and further selected into a forward stepwise logistic regression model to identify the factors most significantly related to illegal substance use. A total of 22 (4.4%) participants reported illegal substance use in the preceding month, and mean age was 22.9 ± 1.6. Forward stepwise logistic regression revealed that being victims of homophobic cyberbullying in childhood and adolescence (odds ratio (OR) = 1.26; p = 0.011), disclosure of sexual orientation at junior high school (OR = 4.67; p = 0.001), and missing classes or truancy in senior high school (OR = 2.52; p = 0.041) were significantly associated with illegal substance use in early adulthood. Multi-dimensional factors in childhood and adolescence that were significantly associated with illegal substance use in early adulthood among gay and bisexual men were identified. Besides traditional bullying, the effect of cyberbullying and school performance on illegal substance use should not be ignored. This study is limited to the cross-sectional design and possible recall bias. Mental health professionals must routinely assess these significant factors to prevent and intervene in illegal substance use among gay and bisexual men.

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