from Medical Issues

Writing in "Alcohol Use And High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: The Effects Of Consumption Level And Partners," the researchers tested a hypothesis that "social context would moderate the effect of alcohol consumption on unprotected anal sex (UAS).

The researchers noted that 42% of all new HIV infections in the U.S. are among MSM (Men who have sex with Men)--more than any other group. In addition, there is a resurgence of unsafe sexual practices resulting in increased spread of STDs and HIV infection among gay males.

They observe: "... empirical findings indicate that heavy drinkers are more likely to engage in sexual risk taking but provide little basis for assuming a direct causal association between alcohol use and risky sexual behavior."

In this study, they hypothesized that alcohol use would be more common for sexual encounters involving nonprimary sexual partners rather than primary partners. Gays are more motivated to drink as a way of reducing tension and stress as they engage in sex with nonprimary partners. As predicted, alcohol use was more than twice as likely for sexual episodes involving nonprimary partners.

In addition, they found that men whose recent sexual encounter was with a primary partner was more likely to have engaged in UAS than those whose recent experience was with a nonprimary partner. The researchers theorized that individuals in a primary relationship have decided to forgo condom use as a "reasoned decision, as when known seronegative partners adopt a 'negotiated safety' agreement to forgo condom use in the relationship and avoid risk with other partners."

They conclude with the following observation: "Ultimately, by identifying individual and situational factors that determine both the extent of substance use in sexual settings and the degree to which substance abuse leads to sexual risk, researchers will be better equipped to design tailored interventions that effectively reduce substance-related sexual risk-taking behaviors."