The Israeli club drug culture: A qualitative examination of gender differences in substance use and sexual risk behaviors

s / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 156 (2015) e102–e182 e123 in ascertaining pathways to prevent or delay use. The study aims to examine gender specific factors associated with initiation age of NMU of stimulants, benzodiazepines or opioids using a hazards model. Methods: Youth aged 10 to 18 years (N=11,048) from 10 US cities were surveyed in the National Monitoring of Prescription Stimulants Study using an entertainment venue intercept method. Age of NMU initiation was determined by self-report of NMU of stimulants, benzodiazepines or opioids. NMUwas defined as medication use more than prescribed, that belonged to someone else, by non-oral routes, or to get high. Assessments included sociodemographic characteristics and age of initiation of smoking and alcohol. The hazard of NMU initiation stratified by gender was estimated.Coxproportionalhazardsmodelswereused toassess factors associated with NMU initiation. Results: Overall, 5.6% of youth reported past 30 day NMU; 52% of the sample were female. The hazard of NMU initiation differed by gender; females had 1.15 increased hazards of initiating NMU compared to males. Females with ADHD and early alcohol use initiated NMU 1.3 and 2.8 times earlier than their counterparts. Males who had initiated alcohol use earlier were more likely to initiate NMU than later alcohol users (Hazard Ratio 2.1). Conclusions: It is important to understand more about early onset of NMU. This national sample of over 11,000 youth helps us understand gender differences in vulnerability to NMU initiation. Findings have implications for targeted programs to prevent or delay NMU onset. Financial support: Fogarty International Centre Indo-US Training Program in Non-Communicable Diseases (D43-TW009120; Lasopa, Fellow; PI: Cottler). N-MAPSS was conducted under contract with Pinney Associates, with provided funding by Shire Pharmaceuticals and Noven Pharmaceuticals. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.338 The Israeli club drug culture: A qualitative examination of gender differences in substance use and sexual risk behaviors Maayan Lawental1, Steven P. Kurtz3, Mance E. Buttram2 1 School of Social Work, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel 2 Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, Nova Southeastern University, Miami, FL, United States 3 ARSH: Center for Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, Nova Southeastern University, Miami, FL, United States Aims: This preliminary study examines gender differences in substance use and sexual risk behavior among men and women participants in Israeli club drug culture. Data include in depth qualitative interviewswithmen andwomenwhowere over age 18 and reported recent (past 90 days) and regular use of club drugs (e.g., cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, GHB, ketamine, or methamphetamine) and attendance at large Israeli nightclubs. Methods: In depth qualitative interview respondents were between the ages of 22-35 and both genders reported binge drug and alcohol use and the trendiness of cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and other hallucinogens. Most were students and also part-time employed in clubs, bars and/or restaurants. Results: Women described common cultural practices, such as trading sex for drugs inside club restrooms, and being in control of “being out of control.” Straight men described paying substantial amounts of money for drugs, and consequently for sex with female club-goers.Menwhoself identifiedaseithergayorbi-sexual described that is commonpractice in the gay-scene touseGHBwith potential partners before engaging in sexual activity. Women, on the other hand, described GHB as a drug they would never knowingly take. However, they also describe a milieu in which they take variousdrugs frommentheydonotknow,withoutknowingexactly what they are being given. Additional themes were identified and will be presented. Conclusions: The interviews suggest that, both in groups and alone,womenareparticularly vulnerable tonegative consequences of drug use, including victimization, substance use disorders, and transmission of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. Prevention efforts must address multiple social ecological factors to increase safety and decrease risk exposure for young adults in the Israeli club drug scene. Financial support: None. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.339 Assist in HIV/AIDS service settings: Comparison of self-screening and peer-support screening method Giang M. Le1, Hang Nguyen1, Hoa Tran1, Gavin Bart2, Traci R. Rieckmann3, Hoang Tran1, Kendall Darfler4, R. Rawson4 1 Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam 2 Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States 3 Public Health, OHSU, Portland, OR, United States 4 UCLA ISAP, Los Angeles, CA, United States Aims: In Vietnamese context, the HIV epidemic has been driven largely by injection drug use and it is common for people to continue using illicit drugs and alcohol during their HIV treatment. A reliable and easy-to-use screening method is particularly important since no routine testing for substance use among patients attendingHIV services is conducted. This study compared the effectiveness of two different methods of substance use screening: patient doing self-screening with a tablet versus peer educatorassisted screening with a tablet. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, using The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) integrated onto a PC tablet to conduct screening for patients aged 18 and above in 2 outpatient HIV treatment clinics and 1 HIV testing center. Patients were randomized into two groups. The prevalence of each substance use and the risk of dependence on that substance werecomparedbetweenself-administered (SA)group (n=297)and peer educator-assisted (PA) group (n = 296). Results: The prevalence of self-reported substance use in the SA group was significantly higher than the PA group for Cocaine (p=0.03), Inhalants (p=0.00) and Alcohol (p=0.01). The risk of dependence was significantly higher in the SA group than the PA group forTobacco (p=0.01),Alcohol (p=0.05), Inhalants (p=0.00) and Sedatives/sleeping pills (p=0.05). Conclusions: This first ever study using theASSIST for screening substance use among patients attending HIV services in Vietnam showed that self-administered screening has higher percentage reporting use and dependence as compared to peer educatorassisted screening. It is important to provide opportunities for patients of HIV services to report and discuss their continued drug use in order to improve treatment outcomes. Financial support: The study was funded by a supplement to NIDA Grant DA032733. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.340