Club Drug Use and Risky Sex Among Gay and Bisexual Men in New York City

Abstract

SUMMARY In New York City, the use of “club drugs” such as MDMA, crystal methamphetamine, ketamine, GHB, and cocaine has been identified as an emerging problem among subgroups of the gay and bisexual male community. More alarming is the mounting empirical evidence showing how club drug use is associated with the rising prevalence of unsafe sexual behaviors among members of this community, leading to increasing HIV incidence. Studies have been conducted at the Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training (CHEST) at Hunter College of City University of New York that address prevalence of club drug use and unsafe sexual behaviors among various samples of gay and bisexual men in New York City. Creative educational interventions as well as clinical strategies using Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy may be useful for clinicians and other health care practitioners by helping clients develop skills to reduce club drug use and risky sex.