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Harassment, Discrimination, Violence, and Illicit Drug Use Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

NCJ Number
231667
Journal
AIDS Education and Prevention Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2010 Pages: 286-298
Author(s)
Carolyn F. Wong; George Weiss; George Ayala; Michele D. Kipke
Date Published
August 2010
Length
13 pages
Annotation

This study examined the relationship among social discrimination, violence, and illicit drug use among an ethnically diverse cohort of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) residing in Los Angeles.

Abstract

Five hundred, twenty-six YMSM (aged 18-24 years) were recruited using a venue-based, stratified probability sampling design. Surveys assessed childhood financial hardship, violence (physical assault, sexual assault, intimate partner violence), social discrimination (homophobia and racism), and illicit drug use in the past 3 months. Analyses examined main and interaction effects of key variables on drug use. Experiences of financial hardship, physical intimate partner violence and homophobia predicted drug use. Although African-American participants were less likely to report drug use than their Caucasian peers, those who experienced greater sexual racism were at significantly greater risk for drug use. Racial/ethnic minority YMSM were at increased risk for experiencing various forms of social discrimination and violence that place them at increased risk for drug use. Tables, figure, and references (Published Abstract)