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The CASTRO study: Unsafe sexual behaviors and illicit drug use among gay and bisexual men who use anabolic steroids
Author(s) -
Ip Eric J.,
Doroudgar Shadi,
ShahManek Bijal,
Barnett Mitchell J.,
Tenerowicz Michael J.,
Ortanez Marvin,
Pope Harrison G.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1111/ajad.12865
Subject(s) - medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , men who have sex with men , hepatitis c , population , ecstasy , anal sex , homosexuality , demography , psychiatry , psychology , syphilis , family medicine , environmental health , psychoanalysis , sociology
Background and Objectives The majority of anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) studies have focused on the general male population. Approximately 15% of gay or bisexual men are seropositive for HIV and many AASs are administered via injection. Thus, AAS use among gay and bisexual men likely poses a greater risk of spreading infectious disease. Gay and bisexual men who use AAS were compared with non‐users regarding self‐reported seropositivity for HIV and hepatitis B and C, sexual behaviors and injection practices, illicit drug and alcohol use, and psychiatric disorders. Methods The CASTRO (Castro Anabolic Steroid Research Observation) study was a 108‐item cross‐sectional survey of 153 gay and bisexual men who exercise. Data collection occurred outside four gyms in the San Francisco Castro District. Results The lifetime prevalence of AAS use among gay and bisexual men in the study was 21.6%. AAS users and non‐users did not differ in self‐reported seropositivity for HIV or hepatitis B and C, but AAS users reported higher rates of male‐male condomless anal sex in the past year (84.8 vs 60.8%, p < .01) than non‐users. More AAS users used ecstasy and methamphetamines (39.4 vs 16.7%, p < .01 and 18.2 vs 5.0%, p = .01, respectively) than non‐users. Discussion and Conclusions Gay and bisexual men who used AAS were more likely to engage in unsafe sexual behaviors and use illicit drugs relative to non‐users. Multiple factors place AAS users at higher risks for spreading infectious diseases. Scientific Significant Our study suggests increased infectious disease risk among gay and bisexual men who use AAS. (Am J Addict 2019;XX:1–10)