6th Regional Conference in Sarajevo, May 17-18 2012.

1. Abuse of party drugs and/or
alcohol as a factor of increased
vulnerability of HIV infection
among young MSM population.
Miodrag Kajgana, Branko Kostić,
Nikola Avramović
Team Three, Serbia

2. Goal
Establish potential vulnerability to HIV among young under the
influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

3. Methodology
* A poll has been done of 40 young MSM from Belgrade, age
bracket 18-30, but the tested sample was too small to be
considered representative.
* The respondents have been reached through field work at the
Disease Clinic in Belgrade/HIV and AIDS Ambulance, hot spot (
“Ušće”park), through personal contact and social networks
(Facebook, Gayromeo).
* For 12 respondents we knew in advance that they were HIV+
(9+3).

4. * The poll included three key questions:
(1) during a four week period how often do you consume alcohol/
party drugs,
(2) how often do you have sexual intercourse after consuming
alcohol/party drugs,
(3) do you use a condom when having sex under the influence of
alcohol/party drugs
* In the research data concerning marijuana use as a party drug
was not done (our interest was based on synthetic party drugs, for
example extasy).
* In the research data concerning sexual practice strictly under
the influence of alcohol and/or party drugs was used.
* The Respondents have been intervued (no questionnaries have
been filled out). All interviews have been done in a friendly and
informal atmosphere.

5. Results
Table 1.a. Number of days of consumption of alcohol and/or party
drugs among young MSM-S where the HIV status is unknown.
Number of HIV-
days of alcohol and/or party drugs Alcohol Party drugs
consumption of TOTAL
alcohol and/or
N % N N
party drugs
0-2 2 7,14 1 1
3-4 7 25,00 5 4
5-6 15 53,57 12 7
7-8 3 10,71 3 1
More than 8 1 3,57 1 0
TOTAL 28 99,99 22 13

6. 1) In a subpopulation of young MSM-S where the HIV status is
unknown in a four-week :
* 15 uses alcohol and/or party drugs 5-6 times/day
* 12 uses alcohol 5-6 times/day
* 7 uses party drugs 5-6 times/day during a four-week period

7. Table 1.b. . Number of days of consumption of alcohol and/or party drugs among young
HIV+ MSM-s
Number of HIV-
days of alcohol and/or party drugs Alcohol Party drugs
consumption of TOTAL
alcohol and/or
party drugs N % N N
0-2 4 33,33 3 1
3-4 7 58,33 7 2
5-6 1 8,33 1 0
7-8 0 0,00 0 0
More than 8 0 0,00 0 0
TOTAL 12 99,99 11 3

8. 2) In a subpopulation of young MSM-S where the HIV status is
known (HIV+) in a four-week period:
* 7 uses alcohol and/or party drugs 3-4 times/day
*7 uses alcohol 3-4 times/day
* 2 uses party drugs 3-4 times/day

9. Table 2. a Number of sexual intercourses under the influence of alcohol and/or
party drugs in a subpopulation of young MSM-S where the HIV status is
unknown
Number of sexual inercourses alcohol and/or Alcohol Party
party drugs drugs
TOTAL number of sexual 47 27 15
intercourses
Number of sexual 27 16 7
intercourses with condom
Number of sexual 20 11 8
intercourses without condom

10. 1) In a tested sample of subpopulation of young MSM-S where
the HIV status is unknown:
* under the influence of alcohol and/or party drugs 47 sexual
intercourses have been reported, from which 27 were under the
influence of alcohol and 15 under the influence of party drugs;
* from the total number of reported sexual intercourses(47) under
the influence of alcohol and/or party drugs, safe sex
(condom)was practiced by 27 respondents, and 20 had unsafe sex
(without a condom)
* Under the influence of alcohol safe sex (condom) was reported
by 16 respondents, and 11 reported unsafe sex(without condom);
*under the influence of party drugs pod dejistvom party droga 7
reported safe sex, and 8 reported unsafe sex.

11. Table 2. ba Number of sexual intercourses under the influence of alcohol and/
or party drugs in a subpopulation of young HIV + MSM
number of sexual intercourses alcohol and/or Alcohol Party drugs
party drugs
TOTAL number of sexual 32 16 11
intercourses
Number of sexual intercourses 17 10 3
with condom
Number of sexual intercourses 15 6 8
without condom

12. 2) In a tested sample of subpopulation of young HIV+ MSM-S:
*under the influence of alcohol and/or party drugs 32 sexual
intercourses have been reported, from which 16 were under the
influence of alcohol and 11 under the influence of party drugs;
* from the total number of reported sexual intercourses(32) under
the influence of alcohol and/or party drugs, safe sex
(condom)was practiced by 17 respondents, and 15 had unsafe sex
(without a condom);
* Under the influence of alcohol safe sex (condom) was reported
by 10 respondents, and 6 reported unsafe sex(without condom);
* under the influence of party drugs pod dejistvom party droga 3
reported safe sex, and 8 reported unsafe sex.

13. Discussion
Based on the information gathered from the testing of the small
sample, it is obvious that a widespread practice of alcohol and/or
party drugs consumption among the young MSM population
exists. What is fascinating is the fact that a relatively large
number of sexual intercourses under the influence of alcohol and/
or party drugs exists, and especially that unprotected sex makes
up a significant number in both subpopulations. The greatest
concern is the fact that this phenomena occurs in the HIV+MSM
population.

14. Conclusion
Based on the research of the small sample of the two
subpopulations of young MSM HIV+, in Belgrade, and those
whose HIV status was unknown, we can make the following
conclusions:
* both subpopulations have a widespread practice of alcohol or
party drugs;
* in both subpopulations a certain percentage of those who use
both alcohol and party drugs exists;
* both subpopulations under the influence of alcohol and/or party
drugs are extremely sexually active;
* the share of unprotected, unsafe sex, from the total number of
sexual intercourses, under the influence of alcohol and/or party
drugs, is extremely high.

15. Recommendations
1) a continuous implementation of the need assesement
primarily from the demand aspect in health care (prevention area)
in the young MSM population
2) a multi-sector approach from the creation aspect (a)
programme- curriculum of health education for young MSM, (2)
creation of specific informative-educational-communicative
materials intended for young MSM , tested throught (example)
fokus groups;

16. 3) From the aspect of the civil society organizations (Non-
Govt.Agencies) which work with the LGBT/MSM population:
creating specific programes for promoting healthy lifestyles;
4) from the primary health care aspectsa aspekta primarne: (a)
sensitization of health care workers for working with the MSM
population, (b) education of health care workers to recognize the
consumption of alcohol and/or party drugs especially in the
young MSM subpopulation, (c) education of health care workers
how to promote healthy lifestyles in the MSM population.