Harmless? A hierarchical analysis of poppers use correlates among young gay and bisexual men

Demant, D; Oviedo-Trespalacios, O

Harmless? A hierarchical analysis of poppers use correlates among young gay and bisexual men

Demant, D

Oviedo-Trespalacios, O

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Drug and Alcohol Review, 2019, 38 (5), pp. 465 - 472
Issue Date:: 2019-07-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Demant, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3330-2972	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Oviedo-Trespalacios, O	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-08-01T19:05:50Z
dc.date.issued	2019-07-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Drug and Alcohol Review, 2019, 38 (5), pp. 465 - 472	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0959-5236	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/134685
dc.description.abstract	© 2019 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Introduction and Aims: Poppers (alkyl nitrites) are recreational substances commonly used during sexual activity. The current legal status of poppers is complex and wide-ranging bans are increasingly under discussion. Research has identified disproportionate levels of poppers use in sexual minority men. While research on poppers use among sexual minority men exists, little is known about poppers use patterns and correlations with psychosocial and other factors among gay and bisexual young men. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 836 Australian gay and bisexual young men aged 18 to 35 years. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical segmentation analyses were conducted to identify poppers use patterns, and correlates of recent poppers use (past 3 months) with personal characteristics, use of other substances, as well as mental and psychosocial health including minority stress, LGBT-community connectedness and participation. Results: High levels of lifetime (38%, n = 315) and recent (24%, n = 204) poppers use were reported. However, few participants reported dependency symptoms, risky consumption or problems arising from using poppers. The final model included three variables (visiting sex-on-premises venues, licensed LGBT venues, and using other substances) and predicted 85% (n = 174) of recent poppers use. No correlations with other concepts or characteristics could be identified. Conclusion: This analysis further supports the hypothesis that poppers may be substances with a comparably low-risk profile. A regulation of poppers with a harm reduction approach may present a valuable public health intervention.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Drug and Alcohol Review	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/dar.12958	en_US
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Substance Abuse	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Substance-Related Disorders	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Nitrites	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Assessment	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Harm Reduction	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Risk-Taking	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sexual Behavior	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Sexual and Gender Minorities	en_US
dc.title	Harmless? A hierarchical analysis of poppers use correlates among young gay and bisexual men	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	5	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	38	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences	en_US
utslib.for	16 Studies in Human Society	en_US
utslib.for	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Public Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.issue	5	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	38	en_US

Abstract:

© 2019 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Introduction and Aims: Poppers (alkyl nitrites) are recreational substances commonly used during sexual activity. The current legal status of poppers is complex and wide-ranging bans are increasingly under discussion. Research has identified disproportionate levels of poppers use in sexual minority men. While research on poppers use among sexual minority men exists, little is known about poppers use patterns and correlations with psychosocial and other factors among gay and bisexual young men. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 836 Australian gay and bisexual young men aged 18 to 35 years. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical segmentation analyses were conducted to identify poppers use patterns, and correlates of recent poppers use (past 3 months) with personal characteristics, use of other substances, as well as mental and psychosocial health including minority stress, LGBT-community connectedness and participation. Results: High levels of lifetime (38%, n = 315) and recent (24%, n = 204) poppers use were reported. However, few participants reported dependency symptoms, risky consumption or problems arising from using poppers. The final model included three variables (visiting sex-on-premises venues, licensed LGBT venues, and using other substances) and predicted 85% (n = 174) of recent poppers use. No correlations with other concepts or characteristics could be identified. Conclusion: This analysis further supports the hypothesis that poppers may be substances with a comparably low-risk profile. A regulation of poppers with a harm reduction approach may present a valuable public health intervention.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/134685