Assessing drug abuse among gay-bisexual young men.

Abstract

The utility of an adolescent drug abuse screening tool was explored in a sample (N = 501) of young gay-bisexual men at risk for HIV-AIDS transmission. The Personal Experience Screening Questionnaire (PESQ; K. C. Winters, 1992) revealed favorable evidence of internal consistency reliability (coefficient alpha) and convergent validity with alternative measures of problem severity and delinquency behaviors. Nearly 20% of the sample had scale scores in the elevated range. The PESQ was highly associated with risky sexual behaviors, including using drugs during sex, engaging in unprotected sex, and having multiple sex partners. Study results are discussed in terms of the content and structural similarity of drug abuse among male gays-bisexuals relative to male heterosexuals and in terms of the need for early drug abuse intervention for young gay-bisexual men engaging in risky sexual behaviors.

Depression, hopelessness, suicidality, and related factors in sexual minority and heterosexual adolescents.

“…Although in past studies, researchers have found high rates of substance abuse in gay men, suggesting greater substance abuse rates in sexual minority youth in comparison with heterosexual youth (Winters et al, 1996), the present study, in which we used a demographically similar comparison group, did not. Although in past studies, researchers have found high rates of substance abuse in gay men, suggesting greater substance abuse rates in sexual minority youth in comparison with heterosexual youth (Winters et al, 1996), the present study, in which we used a demographically similar comparison group, did not.…”

‘Out’ gay and lesbian faculty and the inclusion of sexual orientation topics in teacher preparation programmes in the USA

“…However, as the multicultural education movement has matured, other forms of diversity are gradually being incorporated into multicultural and diversity education, including most recently, issues of sexual orientation (Kluth and Colleary 2002). Scholars, activists, and educators committed to inclusive education have been warning for some time that schools are hostile places for gay and lesbian people and that gay and lesbian youth are put at risk as a result of exposure to such environments (Bart 1998;D'Augelli 1998;D'Augelli and Hershberger 1993;Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Educators Network (GLSEN) 2004; Harris Interactive and Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network 2005;Human Rights Watch 2001;Massachusetts Department of Education 1995;McFarland and Dupuis 2001;O'Conor 1994;Rotheram-Borus, Hunter, and Rosario 1994;Safren and Heimberg 1998;Winters, Remafedi, and Chan 1996). The hostile nature of schooling for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (LGBQ) youth and families (Kosciw and Diaz 2008) has been partially explained by citing negative attitudes and ignorance among educators regarding gay and lesbian issues.…”

Relationship of Amphetamine and Other Substance Use to Unprotected Intercourse Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

“…The items in the problem severity scale "reflect several behavioral domains associated with adolescent drug use, the most prominent domains being drug use consequences, benefits of drug use, and dependence symptoms." 24 The psychometric properties of the PESQ for a sample of young gay and bisexual men have been assessed, revealing high levels of internal reliability (␣ = .92-.95) and convergent and discriminant validity. 24 A continuous measure of drug use severity was constructed by adding the nonweighted scores of the 18 items of the PESQ problem severity scale.…”