Associations Between Cannabis Use, Sexual Behavior, and Sexually Transmitted Infections/Human Immunodeficiency Virus in a Cohort of Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

Gorbach, Pamina M.; Javanbakht, Marjan; Shover, Chelsea L.; Bolan, Robert; Ragsdale, Amy; Shoptaw, Steven

doi:10.1097/olq.0000000000000919

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…SMY are at an increased risk of cannabis use [21,22,23]. A systematic review of Canadian studies revealed that cannabis use is consistently higher in SMY than in heterosexual respondents, with sexual minority young men and bisexual youth having greater risk than young women or those identifying as lesbian or gay [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Romantic Attraction and Substance Use in 15-Year-Old Adolescents from Eight European Countries

Költő

Cosma

Young

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Sexual minority youth are at higher risk of substance use than heterosexual youth. However, most evidence in this area is from North America, and it is unclear whether the findings can be generalized to other cultures and countries. In this investigation, we used data from the 2014 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study to compare substance use in same- and both-gender attracted 15-year-old adolescents from eight European countries (n = 14,545) to that of their peers who reported opposite-gender attraction or have not been romantically attracted to anyone. Both-gender attracted, and to a lesser extent, same-gender attracted adolescents were significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes, consume alcohol, get drunk and use cannabis, or be involved in multiple substance use in the last 30 days compared to their opposite-gender attracted peers. Those adolescents who have not been in love had significantly lower odds for substance use than all other youth. The pattern of results remained the same after adjusting for country, gender and family affluence. These findings are compatible with the minority stress and romantic stress theories. They suggest that sexual minority stigma (and love on its own) may contribute to higher substance use among adolescents in European countries.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Romantic Attraction and Substance Use in 15-Year-Old Adolescents from Eight European Countries

Költő

Cosma

Young

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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“…Frequency of cannabis use did not change CS risk. While a similar lack of effect on CS and STI outcomes has been apparent in studies of adolescents, young adults, and MSM [42,[47][48][49][50][51][52],, other studies have found the opposite [27][28][29][30]. Several wide-ranging factors may be driving differences in findings; these include population-level factors (e.g., age, gender, sexual orientation); social factors (e.g., relationship type and duration, power dynamics surrounding sexual behavior, and the role of intentionality to use condoms in the context of cannabis use); factors specific to cannabis and its use itself (e.g., drug potency, dependency, tolerance to its effects); study design factors, such as social desirability bias from particular data collection methods.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Individual and poly-substance use and condomless sex among HIV-uninfected adults reporting heterosexual sex in a multi-site cohort

et al. 2021

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Background We analyzed the association between substance use (SU) and condomless sex (CS) among HIV-negative adults reporting heterosexual sex in the Seek, Test, Treat, and Retain (STTR) consortium. We describe the impact of SU as well as person/partner and context-related factors on CS, identifying combinations of factors that indicate the highest likelihood of CS. Methods We analyzed data from four US-based STTR studies to examine the effect of SU on CS using two SU exposures: 1) recent SU (within 3 months) and 2) SU before/during sex. Behavioral data were collected via 1:1 or self-administered computerized interviews. Adjusted individual-study, multivariable relative risk regression was used to examine the relationship between CS and SU. We also examined interactions with type of sex and partner HIV status. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using traditional fixed-effects meta-analysis. We analyzed data for recent SU (n = 6781; 82% men, median age = 33 years) and SU before/during sex (n = 2915; 69% men, median age = 40 years). Results For both exposure classifications, any SU other than cannabis increased the likelihood of CS relative to non-SU (8–16%, p-values< 0.001). In the recent SU group, however, polysubstance use did not increase the likelihood of CS compared to single-substance use. Cannabis use did not increase the likelihood of CS, regardless of frequency of use. Type of sex was associated with CS; those reporting vaginal and anal sex had a higher likelihood of CS compared to vaginal sex only for both exposure classifications (18–21%, p < 0.001). Recent SU increased likelihood of CS among those reporting vaginal sex only (9–10%, p < 0.001); results were similar for those reporting vaginal and anal sex (5–8%, p < 0.01). SU before/during sex increased the likelihood of CS among those reporting vaginal sex only (20%; p < 0.001) and among those reporting vaginal and anal sex (7%; p = 0.002). Single- and poly-SU before/during sex increased the likelihood of CS for those with exclusively HIV-negative partners (7–8%, p ≤ 0.02), and for those reporting HIV-negative and HIV-status unknown partners (9–13%, p ≤ 0.03). Conclusion Except for cannabis, any SU increased the likelihood of CS. CS was associated with having perceived HIV-negative partners and with having had both anal/vaginal sex.

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“…Due to possible anti-inflammatory effects, cannabis use may also lower the odds of neurocognitive impairment in people with HIV infection [50]. Regarding the impact of cannabis on sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the data show that there were fewer STIs and lower risk of sexual engagement among HIV-infected MSMs who smoked cannabis as compared to those who did not smoke cannabis [72]. On the positive side of cannabis use, research shows that cannabis improves appetite, food intake, and metabolism, possibly via the endocannabinoid system, which, in turn, activates appetite stimulating hormones such as ghrelin and leptin [40,41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Link between Cannabis Use, Immune System, and Viral Infections

Maggirwar

Khalsa

2021

Viruses

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Cannabis continues to be the most used drug in the world today. Research shows that cannabis use is associated with a wide range of adverse health consequences that may involve almost every physiological and biochemical system including respiratory/pulmonary complications such as chronic cough and emphysema, impairment of immune function, and increased risk of acquiring or transmitting viral infections such as HIV, HCV, and others. The review of published research shows that cannabis use may impair immune function in many instances and thereby exerts an impact on viral infections including human immune deficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C infection (HCV), and human T-cell lymphotropic type I and II virus (HTLV-I/II). The need for more research is also highlighted in the areas of long-term effects of cannabis use on pulmonary/respiratory diseases, immune dysfunction and the risk of infection transmission, and the molecular/genetic basis of immune dysfunction in chronic cannabis users.

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Associations Between Cannabis Use, Sexual Behavior, and Sexually Transmitted Infections/Human Immunodeficiency Virus in a Cohort of Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

Abstract: In a longitudinal Los Angeles study of men who have sex with men there were fewer sexually transmitted infections when men reported exclusive cannabis use.

Cited by 19 publications

References 26 publications

Romantic Attraction and Substance Use in 15-Year-Old Adolescents from Eight European Countries

Romantic Attraction and Substance Use in 15-Year-Old Adolescents from Eight European Countries

Individual and poly-substance use and condomless sex among HIV-uninfected adults reporting heterosexual sex in a multi-site cohort

The Link between Cannabis Use, Immune System, and Viral Infections

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