Rayner Kay Jin Tan1, Caitlin Alsandria O'Hara2, Wee Ling Koh3, Daniel Le4,5, Avin Tan4, Adrian Tyler4, Calvin Tan4, Chronos Kwok4, Sumita Banerjee4, Mee Lian Wong3. 1. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, MD1 Tahir Foundation Building #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore. rayner.tan@u.nus.edu. 2. Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 10 Medical Dr, Singapore, 117597, Singapore. 3. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, MD1 Tahir Foundation Building #10-01, Singapore, 117549, Singapore. 4. Action for AIDS Singapore, 9 Kelantan Lane #03-01, Singapore, 208628, Singapore. 5. National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM) are vulnerable to the risks associated with sexualized substance use. This is a novel study in Singapore that aims to classify patterns of sexualized substance use among YMSM, and investigate its association with sexual and mental health outcomes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study among 570 YMSM aged 18 to 25 years old, latent class analysis (LCA) conducted to identify classes with similar patterns of sexualized substance use, across which measures of inconsistent condom use, recent STI diagnoses, past suicide ideation and depression severity were compared. RESULTS: LCA revealed three classes of YMSM based on types of substances ever used in sexualized contexts, which we labelled as 'substance-naive', 'substance-novice', and 'chemsex'. Substance-naive participants (n = 404) had only ever used alcohol, while substance-novice participants (n = 143) were primarily amyl nitrite users with a small proportion who reported using chemsex-related drugs. Chemsex participants (n = 23) comprised individuals who had mostly used such drugs. Those in the chemsex group were more likely to report recent unprotected anal sex with casual partners (aPR = 3.28, 95%CI [1.85, 5.79]), depression severity (aβ = 3.69, 95%CI [0.87, 6.51]) and a history of suicide ideation (aPR = 1.64, 95%CI [1.33, 2.03]). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study highlight how the use of varying substances in sexualized contexts may be classified and characterized by different sexual and mental health outcomes. Health promotion efforts should be differentiated accordingly to address the risks associated with sexualized substance use among YMSM.
BACKGROUND: Young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM) are vulnerable to the risks associated with sexualized substance use. This is a novel study in Singapore that aims to classify patterns of sexualized substance use among YMSM, and investigate its association with sexual and mental health outcomes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study among 570 YMSM aged 18 to 25 years old, latent class analysis (LCA) conducted to identify classes with similar patterns of sexualized substance use, across which measures of inconsistent condom use, recent STI diagnoses, past suicide ideation and depression severity were compared. RESULTS: LCA revealed three classes of YMSM based on types of substances ever used in sexualized contexts, which we labelled as 'substance-naive', 'substance-novice', and 'chemsex'. Substance-naive participants (n = 404) had only ever used alcohol, while substance-novice participants (n = 143) were primarily amyl nitrite users with a small proportion who reported using chemsex-related drugs. Chemsex participants (n = 23) comprised individuals who had mostly used such drugs. Those in the chemsex group were more likely to report recent unprotected anal sex with casual partners (aPR = 3.28, 95%CI [1.85, 5.79]), depression severity (aβ = 3.69, 95%CI [0.87, 6.51]) and a history of suicide ideation (aPR = 1.64, 95%CI [1.33, 2.03]). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study highlight how the use of varying substances in sexualized contexts may be classified and characterized by different sexual and mental health outcomes. Health promotion efforts should be differentiated accordingly to address the risks associated with sexualized substance use among YMSM.
Authors: Chris Beyrer; Stefan D Baral; Frits van Griensven; Steven M Goodreau; Suwat Chariyalertsak; Andrea L Wirtz; Ron Brookmeyer Journal: Lancet Date: 2012-07-20 Impact factor: 79.321
Authors: Roel C A Achterbergh; Henry J C de Vries; Anders Boyd; Udi Davidovich; Susanne Drückler; Elske Hoornenborg; Maria Prins; Amy Matser Journal: Addiction Date: 2019-11-07 Impact factor: 6.526
Authors: Rayner Kay Jin Tan; Christina Misa Wong; Mark I-Cheng Chen; Yin Ying Chan; Muhamad Alif Bin Ibrahim; Oliver Zikai Lim; Martin Tze-Wei Chio; Chen Seong Wong; Roy Kum Wah Chan; Lynette J Chua; Bryan Chee Hong Choong Journal: Int J Drug Policy Date: 2018-10-26