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. 2013 Aug;103(8):1450-6.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300808. Epub 2012 Nov 15.

Sex, drugs (methamphetamines), and the Internet: increasing syphilis among men who have sex with men in California, 2004-2008

Rilene A Chew Ng  1 , Michael C Samuel, Terrence Lo, Kyle T Bernstein, Getahun Aynalem, Jeffrey D Klausner, Gail Bolan
Affiliations

Sex, drugs (methamphetamines), and the Internet: increasing syphilis among men who have sex with men in California, 2004-2008

Rilene A Chew Ng et al. Am J Public Health. 2013 Aug.

Abstract

Objectives: We examined primary and secondary syphilis cases among men who have sex with men (MSM) in California, and the association of methamphetamine use and Internet use to meet sex partners (Internet use) with number of sex partners.

Methods: We analyzed California surveillance data for MSM who were diagnosed with syphilis between 2004 and 2008, to assess differences in the mean number of sex partners by methamphetamine use and mutually exclusive groups of patients reporting Internet use (Internet users).

Results: Large proportions of patients reported methamphetamine use (19.2%) and Internet use (36.4%). From 2006 through 2008, Adam4Adam was the most frequently reported Web site statewide, despite temporal and regional differences in Web site usage. Methamphetamine users reported more sex partners (mean = 11.7) than nonmethamphetamine users (mean = 5.6; P < .001). Internet users reported more sex partners (mean = 9.8) than non-Internet users (mean = 5.0; P < .001). Multivariable analysis of variance confirmed an independent association of methamphetamine and Internet use with increased numbers of sex partners.

Conclusions: Higher numbers of partners among MSM syphilis patients were associated with methamphetamine and Internet use. Collaboration between currently stand-alone interventions targeting methamphetamine users and Internet users may offer potential advances in sexually transmitted disease control efforts.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Primary and secondary syphilis cases, by gender: California, 1999–2008. Note. MSM = men who have sex with men.
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Reported Internet sites used to meet sex partners in past year among men who have sex with men diagnosed with primary and secondary syphilis: California, 2004–2008. Note. Use of Internet sites is not mutually exclusive (i.e., individuals might have used > 1 site).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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