ParTy n’ Play: Associations between sex-related substance use and the disinhibited externalizing spectrum among gay and bisexual men

Abstract

Research suggests sex-related substance use can be conceptualized within the disinhibited externalizing spectrum of psychopathology. However, this research has generally excluded sexual minority samples. The current study examined the associations between the disinhibited externalizing spectrum and several sex-related substance use domains (i.e., heavy drinking as well as poppers [alkyl nitrite], cannabis, cocaine, and methamphetamine use) in a clinical sample (N=254) of sexual minority men. Disinhibited externalizing was significantly associated with reporting sex-related cannabis and methamphetamine use versus not, and with frequency of sex-related alcohol and cocaine use. These results suggest few and generally weak associations—except for methamphetamine use—between the disinhibited externalizing spectrum and sex-related substance use. Implications for the applicability of dimensional models of psychopathology for sexual minority populations; future directions for research on sexual behavior and substance use grounded in the specific sociocultural context in which sexual minority men exist; and transdiagnostic interventions for sex-related substance use are discussed.

Estudio descriptivo de las personas en tratamiento por adicciones que practican chemsex en la ciudad de Madrid

“…Por tanto, es probable que muchas más personas consuman alcohol sin criterios de adicción al mismo. Es necesario remarcarlo ya que el alcohol es un factor desencadenante y una sustancia facilitadora, tanto para otros consumos como para la propia práctica de chemsex (Gavín et al, 2021;Rodriguez-Seijas et al, 2023).…”