Alcohol, drugs, and condom use among drug offenders: An event-based analysis

Abstract

Background-Studies of the association between substance use and condom use in specific sexual encounters often do not separate the effects of alcohol and different types of drugs. Because the pharmacological effects and social settings of various substances differ, their effects on unprotected intercourse may vary as well.Goal-This study examined the relationship between alcohol and drug use and the use of condoms in sexual encounters with casual partners in a high-risk population of drug offenders Design-Participants in court-ordered drug diversion programs (n=536; 26% female) completed a questionnaire in which they reported on the circumstances of their most recent sexual encounter with a casual partner.Results-In multivariate logistic models, alcohol use in conjunction with sex was not related to decreased condom use in either men or women. Amphetamines (smoked or injected) were associated with decreased condom use, while cocaine, marijuana, and orally-administered amphetamines were not significantly associated with condom use.Conclusions-In this high-risk sample, links between substance use and unprotected sex differ with type of drug used.

Being drunk and high during sex is not associated with condom use behaviours: a study of high-risk young Black males

“…[12][13][14] Whether alcohol and drug use influences condom use remains an equivocal research question. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Moreover, only two studies to date investigated whether alcohol and drug use influences condom use errors and problems (CUEP). These studies occurred in Croatia and Armenia.…”

Condom Use and Concurrent Partnering among Heterosexually Active, African American Men: A Qualitative Report

“…[20][21][22] Condom use also varies by partnership type, 23 relationship duration, 24,25 use of other contraceptive methods, 26,27 and sexual communication, [28][29][30][31] as well as drug and alcohol use. [32][33][34][35] Some qualitative research reports that condoms symbolize infidelity, disease status, and mistrust, which acts as a barrier to continued condom use in long-term and committed relationships. [36][37][38][39][40] Although condom use has not been found to explain racial disparities in HIV or STI prevalence, 41,42 it is still a crucial behavior change goal.…”

HIV Information and Behavioral Skills Moderate the Effects of Relationship Type and Substance Use on HIV Risk Behaviors Among African American Youth

“…36-39 However, some event-level studies have failed to find an association between drug use and risky sex, particularly when measuring marijuana use, 34,40 indicating that the association between drug use and sexual risk may not be consistent across all of adolescents. Furthermore, African American adolescents and adults have been found to drink and use drugs significantly less frequently compared to White individuals, 35,[41][42][43][44][45][46][47] and the association between substance use and sexual risk may not be consistent across racial groups.…”

“…Both of these approaches have yielded mixed results, with some reporting positive associations between alcohol use and sexual risk, 26,28 and others finding no association. 27,29,30 Drug use has also been found to be associated with risky sexual behavior in adolescent populations using both global association and event-level studies, including marijuana use, [31][32][33] amphetamine use, 34 polysubstance use, 35 and studies that measure drug use more generally.…”