Gays and meth

Individuals assigned male at birth, who are members of a sexual or gender minority, experienced double the likelihood of methamphetamine utilization following an HIV diagnosis, as revealed by a study appearing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Methamphetamine usage has represented a concern for gay and bisexual men for scores of years, stated Brian Mustanski, PhD, the study's principal author, and director of the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing (ISGMH), along with the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research.

'Our paramount endeavor is to grasp the epidemiology of HIV, substance abuse, and concurrent mental health complications, as well as the risks and safeguarding determinants that assist us in discerning why certain young men encounter these interwoven health problems more than others,' remarked Mustanski, who also holds a professorship in Medical Social Sciences.

In view of prior research demonstrating a link between diminished dopamine signaling in HIV and the potential for substance abuse, Mustanski, along with his collaborators, embarked on an investigation to delve deeper into this connection.

'Individuals grappling with HIV exhibit amplified systemic inflammation compared to those without HIV. One observation from experimental investigations is that heightened inflammation hampers dopamine signaling, with dopamine playing a crucial role in governing motivation and mood,' elucidated Joshua Schrock, PhD, a research assistant professor at ISGMH and a co-author of the study. 'Owing to this heightened systemic inflammation, those living with HIV might face a greater likelihood of initiating meth use because of the dopamine boost that it provides.'

Within the framework of the current study, researchers scrutinized instances of first-time methamphetamine consumption among gay and bisexual men, as well as transgender women, who form part of the RADAR initiative, a comprehensive longitudinal study focusing on this community.

Participants in the study, who had a prior HIV diagnosis, showed double the probability of reporting first-time methamphetamine use or displaying a positive urine toxicology result compared to study participants without HIV, as per the findings. The use of cocaine and cannabis was also correlated with an elevated chance of starting methamphetamine consumption.

'The revelations of this study could inform screening practices in terms of pinpointing individuals at the greatest risk of initiating meth use,' Schrock stated. 'It also guides us towards the biological underpinnings of stimulant use, potentially highlighting vital avenues for further study, facilitating our quest to enhance prevention and treatment of stimulant misuse.'

Study participants exhibiting elevated levels of C-reactive protein, a measure of systemic inflammation, were also more inclined to commence meth use, irrespective of their HIV status, as indicated by the study.

'I believe the findings emphasize the significance of initiatives like RADAR, wherein we track individuals over time and examine characteristics that may have preceded HIV infection or the initiation of meth use, offering a true prediction of these outcomes,' stated Mustanski, who also initiated and serves as the principal investigator of the RADAR study.

Moving ahead, Mustanski and Schrock will maintain their study of the RADAR cohort, with the aim of achieving a more profound comprehension of the associations between HIV, inflammation, and patterns of brain activity.

'We also aspire to understand how substance use, HIV, and the stress experienced by young gay men in the United States - discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia - interact and potentially accelerate the aging process,' Mustanski commented.

The study garnered support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, specifically grant U01-DA036939, along with additional backing from the Third Coast Center for AIDS Research. This document was produced in collaboration with Adam Carrico, PhD, at Florida International University.

Concerning the RADAR Project

Initiated in 2014, the RADAR study is structured to provide insights into the risks and protective factors associated with HIV and drug use among young men who engage in sexual activity with other men and transgender women.

Specifically, RADAR strives to ascertain the relationships between HIV, substance use, and social factors over time, with the ultimate objective of identifying the impediments hindering the implementation of strategies to eradicate the HIV epidemic.

More than one thousand two hundred study participants from the Chicagoland area have been recruited, and over one hundred scientific publications have been disseminated since the commencement of the study.

Data from the RADAR study is made accessible to the scientific community via the project's website.