Use of crystal methamphetamine among gay men in London.

Full Abstract

AIM:
To examine the use of crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth) and its association with high-risk sexual behaviour among gay men in London.

DESIGN:
Cross-sectional surveys using self-administered questionnaires.

SETTINGS:
National Health Service (NHS) out-patient human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment clinic in London; NHS HIV testing/sexual health clinics in London; central London gyms.

PARTICIPANTS:
HIV-positive gay men attending the HIV treatment clinic in 2002-03 (n = 388); HIV-negative gay men attending the HIV testing/sexual health clinics in 2002-03 (n = 266); gay men using the gyms between January and March 2003 (n = 445), 2004 (n = 653) and 2005 (n = 494).

MEASUREMENTS:
Percentage of gay men who reported:
(i) using crystal meth in the previous 12 months; (ii) using other recreational drugs (e.g. cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine); (iii) high-risk sexual behaviour in the previous 3 months.

FINDINGS:
The percentage of gay men who had used crystal meth in the previous year varied by sample (HIV treatment clinic, 12.6%; HIV testing/sexual health clinics, 8.3%; gyms, 19.5%; P < 0.001) but did not change over time in the gyms (19.8%, 20.7%, 17.8%; P = 0.5). In all samples, the majority of men used crystal meth only once or twice a year. Most crystal meth users (> 80%) had taken other recreational drugs. Crystal meth and other drug users were more likely to report high-risk sexual behaviour than other men, e.g. HIV treatment clinic sample:
crystal meth users, 34.7%; other drug users, 18.9%, non-users, 10.6%, P < 0.001. Cause and effect could not be established.

CONCLUSION:
Among gay men in London surveyed in clinics, approximately one in 10 reported using crystal meth in the previous 12 months (HIV-positive men 12.6%; HIV-negative men 8.3%). Most men used it infrequently--only once or twice a year. There was no evidence of increasing use of crystal meth between 2003 and 2005.

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Author information

Author/s: Bolding, Graham (G); Hart, Graham (G); Sherr, Lorraine (L); Elford, Jonathan (J);

Affiliation: City University, London, UK, MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Glasgow, UK.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Addiction (Abingdon, England) (Addiction), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Nov; vol 101 (issue 11) : pp 1622-30

Dates: Created 2006/10/12; Completed 2007/04/10;

PMID: 17034442, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology
Adult
Amphetamine-Related Disorders - epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Hallucinogens
Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data

Humans
London
Male
Methamphetamine
Street Drugs
Unsafe Sex - statistics & numerical data

Associated Chemicals: Hallucinogens (0) ; Street Drugs (0) ; Methamphetamine (537-46-2)

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