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Table 3 Demographic comparison of how users of different substances intentionally utilise them for sexual purposes

From: Sexual uses of alcohol and drugs and the associated health risks: A cross sectional study of young people in nine European cities

 

All

Female (%)

Male (%)

P

Single (%)

Not Single (%)

P

16–20 (%)

21–25 (%)

26–35 (%)

P

Gay or Bisexual (%)

Heterosexual (%)

P

Alcohol Users (n)

1094

553

540

 

552

513

 

446

446

202

 

133

911

 

Prolong sex

11.6

6.5

16.9

***

12.5

10.9

ns

14.6

9.4

9.9

*

9.0

12.2

ns

Enhance sensations and arousal

12.7

13.6

11.9

ns

13.6

11.9

ns

15.0

11.2

10.9

ns

15.8

12.5

ns

Facilitate sexual encounter

28.6

23.3

34.1

***

35.1

22.0

***

30.0

28.9

24.8

ns

37.6

27.8

*

Unusual/exciting sexual activity

14.6

13.6

15.7

ns

15.6

13.6

ns

15.2

15.0

12.4

ns

15.0

14.3

ns

Cannabis Users (n)

497

212

284

 

284

204

 

204

213

80

 

76

417

 

Prolong sex

11.4

9.4

13.0

ns

13.0

9.3

ns

18.1

5.6

10.0

***

10.5

11.8

ns

Enhance sensations and arousal

25.8

29.2

23.2

ns

27.1

23.5

ns

30.4

20.7

27.5

ns

35.5

24.2

*

Facilitate sexual encounter

14.1

14.2

13.7

ns

17.3

9.3

*

16.7

10.3

17.5

ns

27.6

11.5

***

Unusual/exciting sexual activity

12.7

12.3

13.0

ns

15.1

8.8

*

17.2

8.9

11.3

*

18.4

11.8

ns

Cocaine Users (n)

172

69

103

 

113

54

 

52

86

34

 

35

136

 

Prolong sex

26.2

23.2

28.2

ns

29.2

20.4

ns

30.8

20.9

32.4

ns

28.6

25.7

ns

Enhance sensations and arousal

28.5

21.7

33.0

ns

33.6

16.7

*

34.6

19.8

41.2

*

42.9

25.0

*

Facilitate sexual encounter

15.1

15.9

14.6

ns

18.6

7.4

ns

11.5

14.0

23.5

ns

17.1

14.7

ns

Unusual/exciting sexual activity

22.1

21.7

22.3

ns

23.0

18.5

ns

28.8

15.1

29.4

ns

34.3

19.1

ns

Ecstasy (n)

146

56

89

 

94

51

 

60

65

21

 

28

118

 

Prolong sex

10.3

1.8

15.7

**

8.5

13.7

ns

10.0

10.8

9.5

ns

14.3

9.3

ns

Enhance sensations and arousal

22.6

14.3

28.1

ns

20.2

27.5

ns

20.0

20.0

38.1

ns

10.7

25.4

ns

Facilitate sexual encounter

12.3

8.9

13.5

ns

9.6

15.7

ns

10.0

13.8

14.3

ns

17.9

11.0

ns

Unusual/exciting sexual activity

20.5

8.9

28.1

**

19.1

23.5

ns

18.3

20.0

28.6

ns

17.9

21.2

ns

Differences between substances a

              

Prolong sex

***

***

**

 

***

ns

 

*

***

**

 

*

***

 

Enhance sensations and arousal

***

***

***

 

***

***

 

***

**

***

 

***

***

 

Facilitate sexual encounter

***

**

***

 

***

***

 

***

***

ns

 

*

***

 

Unusual/exciting sexual activity

**

ns

**

 

ns

*

 

ns

ns

*

 

ns

*

 
  1. * p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .001; ns = not significant (two-tailed tests)
  2. a "Difference between substances" statistics compare between substances the proportions of users utilising each substance for a particular sexual effect. All statistics utilise chi square analyses. Analysis is limited to those having had sex in the last 12 months. ns = not significant.
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BMC Public Health

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