Among young Black and Latinx sexual minority men and transgender women, 76% reported cannabis use and polysubstance use was associated with higher odds of risky sexual behaviors linked to HIV.
HIV prevention researchers, LGBTQ+ health providers, substance use counselors
76% cannabis use prevalence
What the researchers found
Cannabis and alcohol were each used by 76% of participants. Nearly half (47%) used both alcohol and cannabis. Polysubstance use was associated with greater adjusted odds of pressure for condomless sex, having older partners, and inconsistent condom use.
Why it matters
Young Black and Latinx sexual minority men face disproportionate HIV burden, and understanding how polysubstance use including cannabis connects to HIV risk behaviors can inform combination prevention strategies.
The numbers in context
466 participants. Alcohol and cannabis: 76% each. 23% used other illicit drugs. 47% used both alcohol and cannabis. 20% used alcohol, cannabis, plus another drug.
How the study worked
Cross-sectional analysis of 466 young Black and Latinx sexual minority men and transgender women from four high HIV-burden US cities enrolled in the PUSH Study, a randomized control trial. Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined polysubstance patterns and sexual partnership factors.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. Participants were from a clinical trial, potentially not representative. Self-reported substance use and sexual behaviors. Cannabis-specific effects cannot be isolated from polysubstance patterns.
How to read the evidence
Cross-sectional analysis from a clinical trial sample with multivariate adjustment, but cannot establish temporal or causal relationships.
When this study was published
2024 analysis from the PUSH Study in four US cities
The bigger picture
Cannabis is often viewed as a lower-risk substance, but in the context of polysubstance use patterns, it is part of a broader risk landscape. The study highlights the need for integrated approaches that address substance use alongside HIV prevention.
Questions still open
- Does cannabis use independently contribute to sexual risk behaviors, or is it the combination with other substances that matters? Would substance use interventions reduce HIV incidence in this population?
Common questions
How common was cannabis use in this population?
What sexual risks were associated with polysubstance use?
Read the original research
Patterns of Polysubstance Use in Young Black and Latinx Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women and Its Association with Sexual Partnership Factors: The PUSH Study.
Substance use & misuse, 59(3), 317-328
Citation
Arrington-Sanders, Renata; Galai, Noya; Falade-Nwulia, Oluwaseun; Hammond, Christopher; Wirtz, Andrea; Beyrer, Chris; Arteaga, Aubrey; Celentano, David. (2024). Patterns of Polysubstance Use in Young Black and Latinx Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women and Its Association with Sexual Partnership Factors: The PUSH Study.. Substance use & misuse, 59(3), 317-328. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2267655
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