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Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified), Open
Journal article
Motivations for prescription drug misuse among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Philadelphia
The International journal of drug policy, v 26(8), pp 764-771
01 Aug 2015
PMCID: PMC4499499
PMID: 25936445
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background: Prescription drug misuse (i.e. opioids, tranquilizers and stimulants) has become the fastest growing area of substance abuse among young adults. Limited studies focus on prescription drug misuse among young men who have sex with men (YMSM, aged 18-29 years). Furthermore, little is known about YMSM's motivations for misuse. The purpose of this study was to explore personal motivations for prescription drug misuse among YMSM, including the possible connection between misuse and sexual behaviors.
Methods: As part of a larger mixed methods study of 191 YMSM recruited in Philadelphia during 20122013, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 25 of these participants to gather additional contextual information about their prescription drug misuse. We conducted thematic analysis of qualitative data.
Results: While our results corroborated previous literature on motives for misuse of prescription drugs, our data yielded some distinct motivations specific among YMSM. These motives included social/recreational motives, facilitating sex with other men (including motives such as use of opioids for less painful anal receptive sex), and psychological motives such as depression, stress management, coping with everyday hardships (opioids and tranquilizers) or feeling more energized (stimulants). Prescription drugs were commonly misused within the broader contexts of participants' polysubstance use, adding to the significance of this problem.
Conclusions: Our findings offer insights into YMSM's motivations for prescription drug misuse, and point to the importance of recognizing and addressing them. While substance use is likely related to various psychosocial issues impacting YMSM, it also may lead to significant health consequences. Results support the need to include prescription drugs and polysubstance use in harm reduction messages and treatment approaches aimed at substance using YMSM. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Details
- Title
- Motivations for prescription drug misuse among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Philadelphia
- Creators
- Aleksandar Kecojevic - San Diego State UniversityHeather L. Corliss - San Diego State UniversityStephen E. Lankenau - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- The International journal of drug policy, v 26(8), pp 764-771
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 8
- Grant note
- R36DA034543 / National Institute of Drug Use (NIDA) R36DA034543 / NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE; United States Department of Health & Human Services; National Institutes of Health (NIH) - USA; NIH National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); European Commission
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Community Health and Prevention
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000358389200009
- Other Identifier
- 991019167596304721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Substance Abuse