Longitudinal Trends in the Use of Illicit Drugs and Alcohol in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study

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Abstract
Secular trends in illicit drug and alcohol use among gay men may reflect behavioral changes related to concerns about HIV1. These trends may also have public health ramifications to the extent that they measure the results of education about safer sexual practices. Using data from 1984-89 in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, we investigated trends in use of illicit drugs and alcohol in HIV1 - men (N = 2,319), HIV1 + men without AIDS (N = 1,118), and HIVI + men who developed AIDS (N = 426). Illicit drug use was initially common, particularly in the HIV1 + groups, but declined substantially with time. Alcohol use declined considerably in the HIV1 + groups and to a lesser extent in HIV1 - men. Moderation in illicit drug and alcohol use was not robustly associated with demographic characteristics. While self-reported illicit drug and alcohol use decreased from 1984-89, such use persisted in most of each group.