Abstract
BackgroundLittle is known about the role of financial hardship as it relates to drug use, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). As such, this study aimed to investigate potential associations between financial hardship status and drug use among MSM.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey of 580 MSM in Paris recruited using a popular geosocial-networking smartphone application (GSN apps). Descriptive analyses and multivariate analyses were performed. A modified Poisson model was used to assess associations between financial hardship status and use of drugs (any drugs, tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, inhalant nitrites, and club drugs).ResultsIn our sample, 45.5% reported that it was somewhat, very, or extremely difficult to meet monthly payments of bills (high financial hardship). In multivariate analyses, a high level of financial hardship was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of reporting use of any substance use (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.05–1.27), as well as use of tobacco (aRR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.19–1.78), marijuana (aRR = 1.48; 95% CI =1.03–2.13), and inhalant nitrites (aRR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.03–1.50).ConclusionsFinancial hardship was associated with drug use among MSM, suggesting the need for interventions to reduce the burden of financial hardship in this population.
Highlights
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are more likely to use illicit drugs compared to general population [1,2,3,4,5], perhaps given that they are more vulnerable to negative experiences in their daily lives
The objective of this study was to examine the association between financial hardship and drug use among a sample of gay, bisexual, and other MSM in the Paris (France) metropolitan area who were recruited from a popular geosocial networking application for MSM
The effect sizes were of relatively small magnitude, our findings suggest that higher levels of financial hardship are significantly associated with overall drug use, as well as the use of tobacco, marijuana and inhaled nitrites after adjusting for covariates
Summary
Bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) are more likely to use illicit drugs compared to general population [1,2,3,4,5], perhaps given that they are more vulnerable to negative experiences in their daily lives. These experiences, described by Meyer’s minority stress model, include rejection, stigmatization, discrimination, and social isolation which is due to their sexual orientation [6, 7]. This study aimed to investigate potential associations between financial hardship status and drug use among MSM
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