Cannabis use and sexual risk among MSM who drink: Understanding why more frequent cannabis users may engage in higher rates of condomless sex

Sexual Alcohol Expectancies, Alcohol Intoxication, and Sexual Behavior in MSM: An Experience Sampling Study

Despite advances in prevention and treatment, the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus remains a significant problem in the United States, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Alcohol use can promote risky sexual decisions, and alcohol expectancies may influence the role of alcohol in decision making. The present secondary analysis tests the moderating role of sexual alcohol expectancies (SAEs) in the relation between daily alcohol intoxication and sexual behavior in a sample of 248 moderate- to heavy-drinking MSM. SAEs were assessed with the Sexual Alcohol Expectancies Questionnaire at baseline, followed by two 23-day bursts of ecological momentary assessment including self-initiated morning assessments of sexual behavior and the prior night's perceived intoxication, as well as nine daily random alcohol assessments. Multilevel modeling showed that SAEs moderated a curvilinear association between intoxication and anal intercourse with a condom such that the relation between daily intoxication and anal intercourse with a condom is a more pronounced inverted u-shape among individuals with strong SAEs, and this moderation effect was not seen for condomless anal intercourse (CAI). While SAEs do appear to influence the association between intoxication and sexual behavior in MSM, they do not appear to moderate the association between alcohol intoxication and CAI.

Sexual alcohol expectancies moderate the relation between alcohol use and sexual behavior among men who have sex with men

BACKGROUND

HIV transmission remains a significant health concern for men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Heavy episodic drinking (HED) is related to increased rates of condomless anal intercourse (CAI) among MSM, though evidence suggests that this association may vary by individual difference factors. The present secondary analysis tested whether sexual alcohol expectancies (SAEs) moderate the associations between frequency of HED and anal intercourse (AI) with and without a condom among moderate-to-heavy drinking HIV- MSM.

METHODS

Two hundred and forty-eight moderate-to-heavy drinking MSM completed self-report questionnaires including the Sexual Behavior Questionnaire, the Modified Daily Drinking Questionnaire, and the Sexual Alcohol Expectancies Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Negative binomial regressions indicated that SAEs moderated the association between frequency of HED and AI with a condom, but not between the frequency of HED and condomless AI (CAI).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that stronger SAEs play a role in alcohol-related sexual behavior among MSM, but do not provide evidence that SAEs are associated with increased risk for HIV transmission through CAI.

Update on cannabis in human sexuality

RATIONALE

Sexuality is a central aspect of being human that encompasses many facets. Cannabis, a widely used psychoactive substance, has been associated with various effects on sexuality. The relationship between cannabis and sexuality is complex and multifaceted, involving physiological, psychological, and social factors.

OBJECTIVES

This review aims to provide an overview of the current literature on the effects of cannabis on several sexual functions, including sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and sexual satisfaction. It also discusses the potential mechanisms underlying these effects, as well as the impact of dose and frequency of use.

RESULTS

This review has revealed a complex relationship between cannabis dosage and its influence on sexuality. It appears that the frequency of cannabis use in humans has been associated with the frequency of sexual activities. Individuals who use cannabis more frequently tend to report higher levels of sexual activity. Moreover, there is a notable gender difference in how cannabis affects sexuality. In addition, we found lower doses of cannabis to be linked to heightened sexual desire and enjoyment, whereas higher doses may lead to a decrease in sexual desire and performance.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the association between cannabis and sexuality is complex and warrants further research to better understand the psychological and neurological mechanisms that underlie the effect of cannabis on these sexuality functions and its implications for sexual health. To advance in this endeavor, a crucial step is establishing a precise measurement of dosage in human studies.

A Network Science Approach to Sex-Polydrug Use Among Black Sexually Minoritized Men and Transgender Women: The N2 Cohort Study

Black sexually minoritized men (SMM) and transgender women (TW) are subgroups with lower rates of substance use and comparable rates of condom use relative to White SMM and TW yet experience heightened vulnerability to HIV. This study sought to explore associations of substance use, including sex-drug use (i.e., drug or alcohol use during sex to enhance sex), and condomless sex among Black SMM and TW. Data were collected from Black SMM and TW living in Chicago, Illinois, enrolled in the Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) cohort study, from November 2018 to April 2019. We used bivariate analyses followed by a multilevel egocentric network analysis to identify factors associated with condomless sex. We conducted Spearman correlation coefficients to examine correlations between pairs of sex-drugs to enhance sex. We used a bipartite network analysis to identify correlates of sex-drug use and condomless sex. A total of 352 Black SMM and TW (egos) provided information about 933 sexual partners (alters). Of respondents, 45% reported condomless sex and 61% reported sex-drug use. In unadjusted analyses, marijuana (34%) and cocaine/crack (5%) sex-drug use were associated with condomless sex (p < 0.05). Condomless sex was positively associated with sex-polydrug use, or the use of 2+ drugs or 1 drug and alcohol (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.02-2.14; p = 0.039), and negatively associated with sharing an HIV-negative serostatus with a sexual partner (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.33-0.98; p = 0.041), having a different HIV serostatus with a sexual partner (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.21-0.64; p < 0.001) or not knowing the HIV serostatus of a sexual partner (OR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.26-0.84; p = 0.011). The following pairs of sex-polydrug use had Spearman correlation coefficients higher than 0.3: marijuana and alcohol, ecstasy and alcohol, cocaine/crack and ecstasy, and methamphetamine and poppers (p < 0.05). HIV prevention interventions for Black SMM and TW designed to reduce HIV transmission through egocentric sexual networks could address sex-drug use through sex-positive and pleasure-centered harm reduction strategies and provide and promote biomedical prevention and care options at supraoptimal levels.

Kasbe A. Addiction/Drug Use and Usage of Condoms Among Homosexual Males: A Cross-sectional Study

Background

Despite the legal acceptance of homosexuality in India, it remains a social taboo, resulting in various challenges being faced by homosexual males. These challenges mainly include issues such as addiction/drug use and inconsistent and/ or incorrect condom usage which increase the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV among them. This study was thus conducted with the objective of studying the patterns of addiction/drug use and condom usage among homosexual males.

Methods

The study was conducted at outreach sites of a non-governmental organization (NGO). A total of 240 participants, consisting of homosexual and bisexual males aged 18-24 years who were residing in the metropolitan city of Mumbai for at least 1 year, were enrolled. Data about addiction/drug use and patterns of condom usage was collected, compiled, entered into Microsoft Excel, and subsequently analyzed using SPSS.

Findings

Out of the total participants, 171 (71.2%) reported engaging in addiction/drug use, Among those participants, 105 (61.4%) engaged in alcohol consumption prior to sexual contact to enhance pleasure or delay climax. Cigarette smoking was the most common type of addiction. Statistically significant association was found between habitual addiction/drug use (P=0.0023), use of ecstasy/aphrodisiac drugs (P=0.00654) and, inconsistent and/or incorrect condom use among the participants. However, planned addiction/drug use only before sexual contact did not show a significant association (P=0.066).

Conclusion

Habitual addiction/drug use among homosexual males increases the likelihood of engaging in inconsistent and/ or incorrect condom use, thereby elevating the risk of acquiring STIs and HIV. To mitigate this risk, interventions targeting addiction/ drug use prevention should be initiated during adolescence to address this issue at an earlier stage of life.

Examining Associations Between Resilience and PrEP Use Among HIV-negative GBM in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver

This study evaluated the association between resilience and PrEP use among a population-based sample of Canadian gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM). Sexually active GBM aged ≥ 16 years old were recruited via respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver from 02/2017 to 07/2019. We conducted a pooled cross-sectional analysis of HIV-negative/unknown GBM who met clinical eligibility for PrEP. We performed multivariable RDS-II-weighted logistic regression to assess the association between scores on the Connor-Davidson Resilience-2 Scale and PrEP. Mediation analyses with weighted logistic and linear regression were used to assess whether the relationship between minority stressors and PrEP use was mediated by resilience. Of 1167 PrEP-eligible GBM, 317 (27%) indicated they took PrEP in the past six months. Our multivariable model found higher resilience scores were associated with greater odds of PrEP use in the past six months (aOR = 1.13, 95%CI = 1.00, 1.28). We found that resilience reduced the effect of the association between heterosexist discrimination and PrEP use. Resilience also mediated the relationship between internalized homonegativity and PrEP use and mediated the effect of the association between LGBI acceptance concern and PrEP use. Overall, PrEP-eligible GBM with higher resilience scores had a greater odds of PrEP use in the past six months. We also found mixed results for the mediating role of resilience between minority stress and PrEP use. These findings underline the continued importance of strength-based factors in HIV prevention.

Evidence-Based Interventions Implemented into HIV Primary Care Clinics to Make Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening and Testing Routine: Outcomes of a Multi-Site Study

In response to rising rates of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States, this evaluative study of the implementation of four evidence-based interventions was developed and implemented. In three STI and HIV high-incidence jurisdictions of the United States, nine federally funded Health Resources and Services Administration Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program clinical demonstration sites implemented (1) audio computer-assisted self-interview sexual history taking, (2) patient self-collection of urogenital and extragenital site chlamydia/gonorrhea nucleic acid amplification test specimens, (3) sexual and gender minority welcoming indicators, and (4) provider training, to make STI screening, testing, and treatment routine in their HIV primary care clinics. The priority populations of young adults, men who have sex with men, and sexual and gender minority patients were found to have risk behaviors identified in the self-interview sexual history, to prefer to self-collect urogenital and extragenital site specimens for STI testing, and to notice and like the sexual and gender minority welcoming indicators. Testing positive for a bacterial STI was significantly associated with using alcohol or recreational drugs before sex, being younger than 50 years, and having two or more sexual partners with other concurrent sexual partners. Of 255 cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis infections, only 13.73% of patients reported related symptoms when screened and tested.

Internalized homophobia and sexual risk behavior in men who have sex with men: The mediational role of sexual self-concept

Men who have sex with men (MSM) are one of the populations most likely to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) worldwide. Sexual risk behaviors (SRB) are the main route of HIV transmission. Among the factors associated with SRB, internalized homophobia (rejection of one's sexuality) is a risk factor unique for MSM. However, how this factor influences SRB is not clear. Therefore, the present study attempts to clarify the mechanism of action of the relationship between internalized homophobia on SRB based on the mediating effects of sexual self-concept. A study was conducted with 124 MSM living in Chile over 18 years of age (M = 24.4 and SD = 4.19). Through path analysis, it was observed that internalized homophobia has slight inverse effects on SRBs (multiple sexual partners and sexual activity under the influence of alcohol or drugs) when the sexual self-efficacy dimension acts as a mediating variable. These findings suggest that developing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS prevention campaigns focused on MSM must highlight the development of a healthy sexual self-concept and address self-stigma.