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The Context of HIV Risk Among Drug Users and Their Sexual Partners

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etween specific NMPD use <strong>and</strong> high-risk sexual behaviors, any number<br />

<strong>of</strong> intrapersonal <strong>and</strong> interpersonal factors could be contributing to the<br />

observed behavioral relationships.<br />

MECHANISMS<br />

<strong>The</strong> author <strong>and</strong> other researchers (Cooper 1989; Leigh 1990; Stall et al.<br />

1986) have speculated upon the types <strong>of</strong> underlying causal mechanisms<br />

that might account for the frequently observed associations between<br />

NMPD use <strong>and</strong> high-risk sexual activity among adolescents <strong>and</strong> gay or<br />

bisexual men. While space constraints do not permit exhaustive<br />

consideration <strong>of</strong> the evidence supporting or refuting them all, an<br />

overview <strong>of</strong> the most frequently discussed potential causal mechanisms is<br />

included in the following paragraphs.<br />

Behavioral Disinhibition<br />

Specific psychopharmacological activities <strong>of</strong> NMPDs <strong>and</strong> alcohol could<br />

potentially cause the release <strong>of</strong> strongly suppressed behaviors. It is<br />

perhaps important that alcohol, which has strong disinhibiting effects on a<br />

variety <strong>of</strong> suppressed behaviors (particularly under stressful or anxious<br />

conditions), has been linked to failure to use condoms by<br />

adolescent/young adult heterosexuals (Cooper 1989) <strong>and</strong> gay/bisexual<br />

men lapsing or relapsing to unprotected RAS after a period <strong>of</strong> change to<br />

safer sexual practices (Kelly et al. 1991a). However, it is likely that<br />

learned or innate expectancies about NMPD use effects are at least as<br />

responsible for the observed associations as are specific<br />

psychopharmacological effects (McKirnan <strong>and</strong> Peterson 1989b), again<br />

highlighting the difficulties <strong>of</strong> distinguishing direct from indirect causal<br />

pathways. It seems appropriate to begin to think <strong>of</strong> the combined<br />

interaction <strong>of</strong> underlying personality characteristics, social/environmental<br />

circumstances, <strong>and</strong> pharmacological effects that may ultimately underlie<br />

the observed associations.<br />

Intoxication or Cognitive Effects Models<br />

Certainly recreational drugs <strong>and</strong> alcohol can affect information<br />

processing <strong>and</strong> psychomotor task performance, <strong>and</strong> their use is associated<br />

with accidents. If intoxicated enough, individuals can forget to take<br />

precautions or improperly utilize condoms. <strong>The</strong> next question is whether<br />

gay/bisexual men who combine NMPD use with high-risk sex decide first<br />

105

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