A recent study conducted by Yale researchers focused on the intersection of unhealthy alcohol use and adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. The research, undertaken between February 2019 and July 2020, involved semi-structured interviews with 15 men who have sex with men in Providence, Rhode Island and New Haven, Connecticut, who were prescribed PrEP and had screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use.
Their analysis identified three key themes: the varied consequences of fluctuating alcohol consumption, the negative impact of alcohol on health and relationships, and a strong preference for a multifaceted approach to treating unhealthy alcohol use.
The team asserts that their insights emphasize the need to increase awareness of the potential harms associated with alcohol, address the range of unhealthy alcohol behaviors in men who have sex with men on PrEP, and integrate effective alcohol reduction strategies within PrEP programs. Dr. Benjamin J. Oldfield, first author of the study, reflects: "Patients often have trusting relationships with their PrEP clinicians. That relationship can make for a great environment to bring up issues surrounding stigmatized behaviors, like alcohol use."
To learn more, read the article, Perspectives on unhealthy alcohol use among men who have sex with men prescribed HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: A qualitative study.
Strong SH, Oldfield BJ, van den Berg JJ, Cole CA, Biegacki E, Ogbuagu O, Virata M, Chan PA, Edelman EJ. Perspectives on unhealthy alcohol use among men who have sex with men prescribed HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: A qualitative study. Prev Med Rep. 2023 Dec 10;37:102553. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102553. PMID: 38282665; PMCID: PMC10810836.