Drug use and sexual risk behavior among gay and bisexual men who attend circuit parties: A venue-based comparison

Context: HIV risk behavior among urban gay/bisexual men has recently increa sed. High-risk sexual activity and drug use may be particularly high during circuit party (CP) weekends, during which gay/bisexual men congregate for social activities and dancing. Objectives: To compare prevalence of risk behaviors during CP weekends with those during non-CP weekends. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: 295 gay/bisexual men from the San Francisco Bay Area. Main Outcome Measures: Drug use and sexual risk behavior during a San Franc isco CP weekend, a CP weekend held in another geographic area (distant week ends), and two non-CP weekends. Results: During their most recent distant CP weekend, 80% of participants u sed methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), 66% ketamine, 43% crystal meth amphetamines, 29% gamma-hydroxybutyrate or gamma-butyrolactone (GHB/GBL), 1 4% sildenafil (Viagra), and 12% amyl nitrites (poppers) 53% used four or mo re drugs. Drug use prevalence was greater during CP than non-CP weekends (p < .001). Unprotected anal sex with partners of unknown or opposite HIV ser ostatus was most prevalent during distant CP weekends, reported by 21% of H IV-positive and 9% of HIV-negative participants. In multivariate analysis, predictors of unprotected anal sex with opposite or unknown HIV serostatus partners included being HIV-positive (odds ratio [OR], 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-7.5), and weekend use of crystal methamphetamines (OR 2. 4; 95% Cl, 1.1-4.9), sildenafil (OR, 3.8, 95% Cl, 2.0-7.3), and amyl nitrit es (OR, 2.2; 95% Cl, 1.3-4.0). Conclusions: Prevalence of high-risk activity during these weekends suggest s significant potential for HIV transmission in this population. Public hea lth programs in communities hosting Cps should aim to reduce rates of drug use and sexual risk behavior among CP participants, especially HIV-positive men.