Circuit party attendance, club drug use, and unsafe sex in gay men

Purpose: We examined the population demographics and club drugs used in gay circuit parties and estimated the reported unsafe sexual behavior associat ed with each drug, the reasons for attending circuit parties, and the unsaf e sex associated with different reasons. Methods: A brief questionnaire was provided to a nonrandom sample of party attendees covering demographics, d rugs used, sexual activity, and reasons for attending gay circuit parties a t three major North American parties in 1998-1999. A total of 1169 usable q uestionnaires were obtained. Odds ratios for unsafe sex for the drugs surve yed [alcohol, marijuana, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy), ketamine (Special K), crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth), cocaine, volatile nitr ites (poppers), and gamma -hydroxybutyrate (GHB)] were calculated, as was s ignificance of unsafe sex for the 10 major reasons for attending parties. R esults: 12-month party drug use was high: > 50% reported using alcohol, Ecs tasy, and Special K. Frequent (rather than occasional) use of Ecstasy, Spec ial K. and poppers had an association with unsafe sex at parties. Poppers a lso showed a statistically significant association with unsafe sex in 12 mo nths (not necessarily at parties) while crystal meth and GHB showed a trend . Attending circuit parties "to look and feel good." "to have sex," and "to be uninhibited and wild" were associated with higher levels of unsafe sex in 12 months. Implications: In this sample, circuit party attendees are wel l educated and financially secure. Party drug use is high. It appears that use of poppers, Ecstasy, Special K, crystal meth, and GHB are associated wi th various measures of unsafe sex. More comprehensive research on club drug use in gay men is required. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights rese rved.