Abstract
The recreational use of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been relatively understudied, despite its popularity in gay communities. We examined the use of GHB in a sample of 450 club drug using gay and bisexual men. Of these, 29% indicated use of the substance in the recent past. GHB users were similar to those in the sample who reported no use along key demographic factors, although GHB users were more likely to identify as gay than bisexual and were slightly older. Poly-drug use was common, with close to half of GHB users combining with methamphetamine, MDMA, or ketamine; approximately one quarter also used GHB with alcohol. Participants reported that GHB was often used at nightclubs, circuit parties, sex parties, and sex clubs, with HIV-positive men more likely to use the substance in sexual contexts. Use of GHB is common among a certain subset of gay men despite warnings within the community about the potentially fatal effects of the substance, suggesting that more effort be given to educate drug using gay men about GHB.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2135-2139 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Addictive Behaviors |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Nov 2006 |
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Keywords
- Addiction
- Club drugs
- Gay and bisexual
- GHB
- HIV
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Clinical Psychology
Cite this
GHB use among gay and bisexual men. / Halkitis, Perry N.; Palamar, Joseph J.
In: Addictive Behaviors, Vol. 31, No. 11, 11.2006, p. 2135-2139.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - GHB use among gay and bisexual men
AU - Halkitis, Perry N.
AU - Palamar, Joseph J.
PY - 2006/11
Y1 - 2006/11
N2 - The recreational use of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been relatively understudied, despite its popularity in gay communities. We examined the use of GHB in a sample of 450 club drug using gay and bisexual men. Of these, 29% indicated use of the substance in the recent past. GHB users were similar to those in the sample who reported no use along key demographic factors, although GHB users were more likely to identify as gay than bisexual and were slightly older. Poly-drug use was common, with close to half of GHB users combining with methamphetamine, MDMA, or ketamine; approximately one quarter also used GHB with alcohol. Participants reported that GHB was often used at nightclubs, circuit parties, sex parties, and sex clubs, with HIV-positive men more likely to use the substance in sexual contexts. Use of GHB is common among a certain subset of gay men despite warnings within the community about the potentially fatal effects of the substance, suggesting that more effort be given to educate drug using gay men about GHB.
AB - The recreational use of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been relatively understudied, despite its popularity in gay communities. We examined the use of GHB in a sample of 450 club drug using gay and bisexual men. Of these, 29% indicated use of the substance in the recent past. GHB users were similar to those in the sample who reported no use along key demographic factors, although GHB users were more likely to identify as gay than bisexual and were slightly older. Poly-drug use was common, with close to half of GHB users combining with methamphetamine, MDMA, or ketamine; approximately one quarter also used GHB with alcohol. Participants reported that GHB was often used at nightclubs, circuit parties, sex parties, and sex clubs, with HIV-positive men more likely to use the substance in sexual contexts. Use of GHB is common among a certain subset of gay men despite warnings within the community about the potentially fatal effects of the substance, suggesting that more effort be given to educate drug using gay men about GHB.
KW - Addiction
KW - Club drugs
KW - Gay and bisexual
KW - GHB
KW - HIV
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33749595639&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33749595639&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.01.009
DO - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.01.009
M3 - Article
VL - 31
SP - 2135
EP - 2139
JO - Addictive Behaviors
JF - Addictive Behaviors
SN - 0306-4603
IS - 11
ER -