TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual identity and drug use harm among high-risk, active substance users
AU - Chow, Clifton
AU - Vallance, Kate
AU - Stockwell, Tim
AU - Macdonald, Scott
AU - Martin, Gina
AU - Ivsins, Andrew
AU - Marsh, David C.
AU - Michelow, Warren
AU - Roth, Eric
AU - Duff, Cameron
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported with grants from the BC Mental Health and Addiction Services Branch of the BC Provincial Health Services Authority, the Canadian Institute for Health Research, Vancouver Island Health Authority, Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health and the BC Ministry of Health. We would like to thank the community service agencies for their support and participation in facilitating this research and all the participants who shared their time with us.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Research shows that sexual minorities are at greater risk for illicit substance use and related harm than their heterosexual counterparts. This study examines a group of active drug users to assess whether sexual identity predicts increased risk of substance use and harm from ecstasy, ketamine, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and crack. Structured interviews were conducted with participants aged 15 years and older in Vancouver and Victoria, BC, Canada, during 2008-2012. Harm was measured with the World Health Organization's AUDIT and ASSIST tools. Regression analysis controlling for age, gender, education, housing and employment revealed lesbian, gay or bisexual individuals were significantly more likely to have used ecstasy, ketamine and alcohol in the past 30 days compared to heterosexual participants. Inadequate housing increased the likelihood of crack use among both lesbian, gay and bisexuals and heterosexuals, but with considerably higher odds for the lesbian, gay and bisexual group. Lesbian, gay and bisexual participants reported less alcohol harm but greater ecstasy and ketamine harm, the latter two categorised by the ASSIST as amphetamine and hallucinogen harms. Results suggest encouraging harm reduction among sexual minority, high-risk drug users, emphasising ecstasy and ketamine. The impact of stable housing on drug use should also be considered.
AB - Research shows that sexual minorities are at greater risk for illicit substance use and related harm than their heterosexual counterparts. This study examines a group of active drug users to assess whether sexual identity predicts increased risk of substance use and harm from ecstasy, ketamine, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and crack. Structured interviews were conducted with participants aged 15 years and older in Vancouver and Victoria, BC, Canada, during 2008-2012. Harm was measured with the World Health Organization's AUDIT and ASSIST tools. Regression analysis controlling for age, gender, education, housing and employment revealed lesbian, gay or bisexual individuals were significantly more likely to have used ecstasy, ketamine and alcohol in the past 30 days compared to heterosexual participants. Inadequate housing increased the likelihood of crack use among both lesbian, gay and bisexuals and heterosexuals, but with considerably higher odds for the lesbian, gay and bisexual group. Lesbian, gay and bisexual participants reported less alcohol harm but greater ecstasy and ketamine harm, the latter two categorised by the ASSIST as amphetamine and hallucinogen harms. Results suggest encouraging harm reduction among sexual minority, high-risk drug users, emphasising ecstasy and ketamine. The impact of stable housing on drug use should also be considered.
KW - Canada
KW - drug use
KW - gay
KW - housing
KW - sexual minorities
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84873999456&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13691058.2012.754054
DO - 10.1080/13691058.2012.754054
M3 - Journal Article
C2 - 23311592
AN - SCOPUS:84873999456
SN - 1369-1058
VL - 15
SP - 311
EP - 326
JO - Culture, Health and Sexuality
JF - Culture, Health and Sexuality
IS - 3
ER -