ASSESSING DRUG-ABUSE AMONG GAY-BISEXUAL YOUNG MEN

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 tra nsmission. The Personal Experience Screening Questionnaire (PESQ; K. C . Winters. 1992) revealed favorable evidence of internal consistency r eliability (coefficient alpha) and convergent validity with alternativ e measures of problem severity and delinquency behaviors. Nearly 20% o f the sample had scale scores in the elevated range. The PESQ was high ly associated with risky sexual behaviors, including using drugs durin g sex, engaging in unprotected sex, sad having multiple sex partners. Study results are discussed in terms of the content and structural sim ilarity of drug abuse among male gays-bisexuals relative ro male heter osexuals and in terms of the need for early drug abuse intervention fo r young gay-bisexual men engaging in risky sexual behaviors.