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Risk factors for high levels of prescription drug misuse and illicit drug use among substance-using young men who have sex with men (YMSM)
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Risk factors for high levels of prescription drug misuse and illicit drug use among substance-using young men who have sex with men (YMSM)

Aleksandar Kecojevic, Carolyn F Wong, Heather L Corliss and Stephen E Lankenau
Drug and alcohol dependence, v 150
01 May 2015
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.02.031
PMID: 25772436
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc6368938View
Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified),  Open

Abstract

Adolescent Adult Adult Survivors of Child Abuse - psychology Bisexuality - psychology Cross-Sectional Studies Drug Users - psychology Homosexuality, Male - psychology Humans Male Mental Health Minority Groups - psychology Philadelphia Prescription Drug Misuse - psychology Risk Factors Street Drugs Substance-Related Disorders - psychology Young Adult
Limited research has focused on prescription drug misuse among young men who have sex with men (YMSM), or investigated risk factors contributing to misuse. This study aims to investigate the relationship between multiple psychosocial risk factors (i.e., childhood abuse, discrimination, mental health distress) and prescription drug misuse among YMSM who are current substance users. YMSM (N=191) who reported prescription drug misuse in the past 6 months were recruited in Philadelphia between 2012 and 2013 to complete an anonymous survey assessing demographic information, substance use, and psychosocial factors. High levels of childhood physical abuse and perceived stress were associated with higher opioid misuse, while high levels of depression were associated with lower misuse of opioids. Those with higher levels of perceived stress were more likely to report higher tranquilizer misuse, while those with more experiences of social homophobia/racism and higher levels of depression and somatization reported higher stimulant misuse. Regarding demographic correlates, older participants were more likely than younger participants to report higher opioid misuse, while racial minorities were less likely than White participants to report higher misuse of tranquilizers, stimulants, and illicit drug use. Bisexual/heterosexual/other identified participants were more likely than gay identified participants to report higher misuse of all three classes of prescription drugs. Associations of risk factors with substance use among YMSM are complex and offer opportunities for additional research. Our findings show that prevention efforts must address substance use among YMSM in sync with psychosocial stressors.

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46 citations in Web of Science
46 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

InCites Highlights

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Psychiatry
Substance Abuse
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