Differences in Substance Use and Sexual Risk by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Among Univers
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
Loza
O, Mangadu T, Ferreira-Pinto JB, Guevara P.
Differences in Substance
Use and Sexual Risk by Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Among University
and Community Young Adults in a U.S.-Mexico Border City.
Health Promot Pract. 2021 Jul;22(4):559-573. doi: 10.1177/1524839920933257.
Epub 2020 Jun 15. PMID: 32536322.
Ethnic and sexual minority young adults in El Paso, Texas, are at high risk for
substance use, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV).
In 2014, a Hispanic-serving higher education institution partnered with two
community-based organizations to implement integrated substance use
interventions and HIV and HCV prevention among young adults on campus and in
surrounding communities. Among the 95 young adults, aged 18-24 years, who
responded to a needs assessment survey, 91.5% were Hispanic, 53.7% were female,
and 27.4% were sexual or gender minorities (SGMs) as defined by behavior and
identity. SGMs had significantly higher rates of current smoking, drinking when
bored, and of being told they had a drinking problem. Compared with the other
young adult survey respondents, SGMs had lower health risk perceptions for
tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use and reported similar or higher rates of
lifetime drug use during sex and higher rates of HIV risk behaviors. Study
findings have implications for including measures for sexual orientation and
gender identity in substance use studies, examining regional and cultural norms
that may intersect to shape substance use among SGMs, and incorporating unique
risk contexts for SGMs in interventions for substance use.
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