Research with gay drug users and the interface with HIV : current methodological issues for social work research

E. Gorman

Studying the co-occurrence of drug use and sexual risk behaviors among gay men poses special challenges for research. The importance of conducting such research, however, is underscored by current trends in the gay community, including increases in methamphetamine and club drug use. This increase has been associated with high-risk behavior for the transmission of HIV and other diseases (e.g., hepatitis B and hepatitis C). The author describes methodological issues related to initiating and conducting research among gay male drug users, and discusses how such research can guide more effective prevention, treatment, and policy initiatives related to drug abuse and HIV/AIDS.[Copies are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Center. The Haworth Press, Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580, USA]