Studies: Young Gay Men More Likely to Take DrugsNovember 13, 2003
Research Summary
Two studies show that young, gay men are more likely to take drugs than straight men, the Observer reported Nov. 9.In a study conducted in the United States, researchers found that young men between the ages of 15 and 22 who had sex with other men were nearly twice as likely as heterosexual men to use cocaine. Other drugs used more often by young, gay men include ecstasy and marijuana.
"The people that we spoke to were in an environment that was surrounded by drugs," said Linda Valleroy, an epidemiologist and one of the study's authors. "There were synchronized epidemics of HIV, drug use, and depressive behavior."
The second study, conducted in Britain by the mental-health group Mind, had similar findings. The research found higher drug use among gay men and lesbian women.
"The gay scene is bar and club orientated," said Monty Moncrieff, project coordinator at Antidote, a drugs service for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. "That is where people go to meet other gay people and there is a lot of cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine and GHB around. It is a hedonistic culture and often the lifestyle and recreational drug use go hand in hand."
The U.S. study is published in the November 2003 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Thiede, H., et al. (2003) Regional Patterns and Correlates of Substance Use Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men in 7 US Urban Areas. American Journal of Public Health, 93(11): 1915-1921.
Boston University School of Public Health 
COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE: