@article{ref1,
title="Methamphetamine use and adoption of preventive behaviors early in the COVID-19 pandemic among men who have sex with men in Los Angeles, California",
journal="Drug and alcohol dependence reports",
year="2022",
author="Cohen, Joshua M. and Li, Michael J. and Javanbakht, Marjan and Gorbach, Pamina M. and Shoptaw, Steven J.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: : Methamphetamine (MA) use increased during COVID-19, with men who have sex with men (MSM) exhibiting 3-fold greater use than heterosexual men. Understanding links between reported MA use and COVID-19 prevention behaviors among MSM can inform current transmission risks for HIV, Monkeypox, and other infectious diseases. <br><br>METHODS: : This study assesses relationships between self-reported pattern of MA use (past six months; past two weeks) and reported COVID-19 preventive behaviors, adjusting for participant characteristics (HIV serostatus, race/ethnicity, employment and housing stability), in a cohort of ethnically diverse MSM in Los Angeles, California, between April 1 and September 30, 2020. <br><br>RESULTS: : Compared to those who reported no MA use, MSM who reported weekly or more MA use in the past six months were significantly less likely to use COVID-19 protective behaviors of physical distancing (61.8% vs. 81.6%; AOR = 0.39, 95% CI [0.19, 0.81]), of avoiding public transportation (34.5% vs. 60.3%; AOR = 0.42, 95% CI [0.21, 0.83]) and of avoiding traveling overall (32.7% vs. 62.6%; AOR = 0.32, 95% CI [0.16, 0.63]). Parallel findings were observed in analyses of past two-week reported MA use and COVID-19 protective behaviors. <br><br>CONCLUSION: : Findings highlight ways in which reported MA use frequency links with avoidance of reported preventive behaviors for COVID-19 in urban diverse MSM. <br><br>FINDINGS also provide evidence to guide public health interventions in future outbreaks of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases among MSM.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2772-7246",
doi="10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100097",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100097"
}