Kiffer G Card1, Heather L Armstrong2, Allison Carter3, Zishan Cui4, Lu Wang5, Julia Zhu6, Nathan J Lachowsky7, David M Moore8, Robert S Hogg9, Eric A Roth10. 1. B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Health Science, Simon Fraser University, 11300 Blusson Hall, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada. Electronic address: kcard@sfu.ca. 2. B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada. Electronic address: harmstrong@cfenet.ubc.ca. 3. B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Health Science, Simon Fraser University, 11300 Blusson Hall, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada. Electronic address: allison_carter@sfu.ca. 4. B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada. Electronic address: zcui@cfenet.ubc.ca. 5. B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada. Electronic address: cwang@cfenet.ubc.ca. 6. B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada. Electronic address: jzhu@cfenet.ubc.ca. 7. B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, B202 HSD Building, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada. Electronic address: nlachowsky@uvic.ca. 8. B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 317-2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada. Electronic address: dmoore@cfenet.ubc.ca. 9. B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Health Science, Simon Fraser University, 11300 Blusson Hall, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada. Electronic address: rhogg@sfu.ca. 10. B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Anthropology, University of Victoria, B228 Cornett Building, Victoria, British Columbia, V8P 5C2, Canada. Electronic address: ericroth@uvic.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Association between substance use and HIV-risk among gay and bisexual men (GBM) is well documented. However, their substance use patterns are diverse, and it is unknown whether self-reported use patterns are stable over time. METHODS: Sexually-active GBM, aged >16 years, were recruited in Metro Vancouver using respondent-driven sampling and followed across 5 study visits at six-month intervals (n = 449). To identify distinct patterns of substance use and their longitudinal stability, Latent Transition Analysis (LTA) was conducted for drugs reported by at least 30 participants. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) quantified the stability of class assignments. RESULTS: Six classes characterizing 'limited drug use' (i.e., low use of all drugs, except alcohol), 'conventional drug use' (i.e., use of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco), 'club drug use' (i.e., use of alcohol, cocaine, and psychedelics), 'sex drug use' (i.e., use of alcohol, crystal meth, GHB, poppers, and erectile dysfunction drugs), 'street drug use' (i.e., use of alcohol and street opioids) and 'assorted drug use' (i.e., use of most drugs) were identified. Across five visits (2.5 years), 26.3% (n = 118/449) of GBM transitioned between classes. The prevalence of limited use trended upwards (Baseline:24.5%, Visit 5:28.3%, p < 0.0001) and assorted use trended downwards (13.4%-9.6%, p = 0.001). All classes had strong longitudinal stability (ICC > 0.97). CONCLUSION: The stability of latent substance use patterns highlight the utility of these measures in identifying patterns of substance use among people who use drugs - potentially allowing for better assessment of these groups and interventions related to their health.
BACKGROUND: Association between substance use and HIV-risk among gay and bisexual men (GBM) is well documented. However, their substance use patterns are diverse, and it is unknown whether self-reported use patterns are stable over time. METHODS: Sexually-active GBM, aged >16 years, were recruited in Metro Vancouver using respondent-driven sampling and followed across 5 study visits at six-month intervals (n = 449). To identify distinct patterns of substance use and their longitudinal stability, Latent Transition Analysis (LTA) was conducted for drugs reported by at least 30 participants. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) quantified the stability of class assignments. RESULTS: Six classes characterizing 'limited drug use' (i.e., low use of all drugs, except alcohol), 'conventional drug use' (i.e., use of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco), 'club drug use' (i.e., use of alcohol, cocaine, and psychedelics), 'sex drug use' (i.e., use of alcohol, crystal meth, GHB, poppers, and erectile dysfunction drugs), 'street drug use' (i.e., use of alcohol and street opioids) and 'assorted drug use' (i.e., use of most drugs) were identified. Across five visits (2.5 years), 26.3% (n = 118/449) of GBM transitioned between classes. The prevalence of limited use trended upwards (Baseline:24.5%, Visit 5:28.3%, p < 0.0001) and assorted use trended downwards (13.4%-9.6%, p = 0.001). All classes had strong longitudinal stability (ICC > 0.97). CONCLUSION: The stability of latent substance use patterns highlight the utility of these measures in identifying patterns of substance use among people who use drugs - potentially allowing for better assessment of these groups and interventions related to their health.
Authors: Jamie I Forrest; Nathan J Lachowsky; Allan Lal; Zishan Cui; Paul Sereda; Henry F Raymond; Gina Ogilvie; Eric A Roth; David Moore; Robert S Hogg Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2016-04 Impact factor: 3.671
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Authors: Jesse R Cougle; Jahn K Hakes; Richard J Macatee; Michael J Zvolensky; Jesus Chavarria Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2016-04 Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: Kiffer G Card; Heather L Armstrong; Allison Carter; Zishan Cui; Lu Wang; Julia Zhu; Nathan J Lachowsky; David M Moore; Robert S Hogg; Eric A Roth Journal: Cult Health Sex Date: 2018-03-28
Authors: Nathan John Lachowsky; Allan Lal; Jamie I Forrest; Kiffer George Card; Zishan Cui; Paul Sereda; Ashleigh Rich; Henry Fisher Raymond; Eric A Roth; David M Moore; Robert S Hogg Journal: J Med Internet Res Date: 2016-03-15 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: Edmund A Griffin; Philippe A Melas; Royce Zhou; Yang Li; Peter Mercado; Kimberly A Kempadoo; Stacy Stephenson; Luca Colnaghi; Kathleen Taylor; Mei-Chen Hu; Eric R Kandel; Denise B Kandel Journal: Sci Adv Date: 2017-11-01 Impact factor: 14.136
Authors: Kiffer G Card; Heather L Armstrong; Lu Wang; Nicanor Bacani; David M Moore; Eric A Roth; Robert S Hogg; Nathan J Lachowsky Journal: AIDS Care Date: 2019-12-18
Authors: Syed W Noor; Trevor A Hart; Chukwuemeka N Okafor; Deanna Ware; Kara W Chew; Gypsyamber D'Souza; Ken Ho; M Reuel Friedman; Michael Plankey Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2021-01-09 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: S A Meyers-Pantele; H J Rendina; A J Talan; O Shalhav; S Lammert; K J Horvath Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2021-07-28 Impact factor: 4.852
Authors: Jordan M Sang; Zishan Cui; Paul Sereda; Heather L Armstrong; Gbolahan Olarewaju; Allan Lal; Kiffer G Card; Eric A Roth; Robert S Hogg; David M Moore; Nathan J Lachowsky Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-19 Impact factor: 3.390