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

Given this isolation, methamphetamine use often provides a way for gay
youths to connect with others. As Mark stated:
“I had been alone for so long that I was desperate, and I had found
someone and I wasn’t alone anymore. I felt like I had a real
somebody in the world. I had a place in the world and I didn’t want
to lose that.”
This isolation may enhance the importance of romantic partnerships, and
lead to shared needle use and unprotected sexual activity as a way of
demonstrating love and commitment to partners. For example, Jim had
unprotected sex with an HIV seropositive partner to show that the partner
was “somebody in the world.” Jim “loved” the partner and wanted to
share his fate.
“Finally, I knew that’s how you caught it but I didn’t care at the time.
Me and him have a pact that when we go, we’re just gonna go
together.”
Rob expressed his fears that if he did not engage in unprotected sex, he
may lose his partners.
“I thought if I didn’t make them use it (the condom) maybe they’d
want to be with me, or stay, and I just didn’t care, I didn’t think it
would happen...I mean, I don’t know if I could say, give a reason for
every time why, there’s too many times to count.”
Thus, drug use and sexual risk often occurred while searching for love
and affection.
In addition to enabling youth to connect with others, one effect of
methamphetamine use is to disinhibit behaviors otherwise perceived as
taboo. Adolescents who are uncomfortable exploring homosexual or
bisexual feelings may place responsibility for their homosexual acts on
their drug-induced state. Jim described his first homosexual encounter
while under the influence of methamphetamine.
“I was staring at my brother and I didn’t know why (laughs). My
brother did bad things too, he used to play with me and stuff. When
he was high. Even when he wasn’t high, when we was kids, he’d
touch me and stuff....that’s the first time I really thought about it. In
a homosexual way.”
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