Faculty Collaboration Database

Prevalence of recent illicit substance use and reporting bias among MSM and other urban males. Addict Behav 2008 Aug;33(8):1055-60

Date

04/24/2008

Pubmed ID

18430520

Pubmed Central ID

PMC2519797

DOI

10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.03.003

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-44749087342 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   25 Citations

Abstract

This paper explores whether elevated rates of self-reported substance use among MSM compared to other males may be an artifact of reporting bias. Past month prevalence rates of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, and Ketamine use were compared between a sample of men who have sex with men (MSM), and a general household sample of men, all residing in Chicago. We compared rates of self-reported use, and corrected rates based on the results of drug testing (urine and oral fluid tests). While MSM over 30 years old were significantly more likely than other men in this age group to report past month use of cocaine, test-corrected rates of use were equivalent. On the other hand, test-corrected estimates confirmed elevated rates of Ketamine and Ecstasy use in the MSM sample. Differential disclosure of substance use between MSM and other males may in some cases lead to distorted conclusions about differences in substance use between these groups. The use of biological testing in epidemiological studies of substance use can reduce the uncertainty of such comparisons.

Author List

Mackesy-Amiti ME, Fendrich M, Johnson TP

Author

Michael Fendrich PhD Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Bias
Chicago
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Self Disclosure
Substance Abuse Detection
Substance-Related Disorders
Young Adult