Changes in substance use among young Black men who have sex with men during COVID-19 pandemic
This study examines substance use behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics during the COVID-19 lockdown among young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in California. Using data from the PPOWER<sup>2</sup> intervention, 132 participants completed surveys from February 2020 to September 2021. Pre-pandemic, 70% reported marijuana use, and 60% reported alcohol use. During the lockdown, increased tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use were reported, attributed to boredom and anxiety. Despite limited personal COVID-19 experiences, participants avoided exposure and delayed medical/dental care. Ongoing monitoring is necessary to understand whether substance use rates remain elevated or have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Authors
- Laura Hoyt D’Anna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8331-5400)
- Fiona Gorman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6214-7700)
- Nicholas Gorman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5403-4001)
- Jefferson Wood
Institutions
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (US)
- California State University, Long Beach (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse
- Published
- 2025-04-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/15332640.2025.2486603
- Primary Topic
- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00