Examining the role of venues in structuring sexual and drug-use networks among MS

描述（由申请人提供）：实证研究和模型研究都支持这样一种观点，即性网络结构在性传播感染（STIs）（如人类免疫缺陷病毒1型（HIV-1））的传播动力学中起着核心作用。在男男性行为者（MSM）中，酒吧和俱乐部等场所不仅可以塑造这些性网络，还可以塑造非法药物使用网络，特别是所谓的“俱乐部毒品”。由于“俱乐部毒品”的使用，特别是甲基苯丙胺的使用，与艾滋病毒风险行为水平的增加有关，因此了解俱乐部毒品使用与男男性接触者之间的性网络的交叉点非常重要。这一提议寻求开发模型，以梳理HIV风险行为、非法药物使用及其相互作用中的个体与场所水平因素。首先，我们将以前用于研究邻里效应对健康影响的统计模型调整到单个酒吧和俱乐部的规模，以描述非法药物使用和艾滋病毒风险行为的空间分布。这些模型将应用于一项关于男男性行为者非注射药物使用和艾滋病毒风险行为的时间-地点抽样研究的试点数据。其次，我们将开发一个动态的基于场所的艾滋病毒风险行为和药物使用网络模型。这些模型将使我们能够评估场所在构建艾滋病毒风险和药物使用网络方面所起的作用，以及针对风险行为和药物使用的行为干预在环境层面上的可能影响。这项提案将帮助首席研究员过渡到艾滋病毒和药物使用领域的独立研究员，同时利用他目前的技能。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Both empirical and modeling studies support the notion that sexual network structure plays a central role in transmission dynamics of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Among men who have sex with men (MSM), venues such as bars and clubs can not only shape these sexual networks, but also shape networks of illicit drug use, especially of so-called `club drugs'. As the use of `club drugs', especially methamphetamine, has been associated with increased levels of HIV risk behaviors, it is important to understand the intersection of club drug use and sexual networks among MSM. This proposal seeks to develop models to tease apart individual- versus venue-level factors in HIV risk behaviors, illicit drug use, and their interaction. Firstly, we will adapt statistical models previously used to study the impact of neighborhood effects on health to the scale of individual bars and clubs in order to describe the spatial distribution of illicit drug use and HIV risk behaviors. These models will be applied to pilot data from a time-location sampling study of non-injection drug use and HIV risk behaviors among men who have sex with men. Secondly, we will develop a dynamic venue-based network model of HIV risk behavior and drug use. These models will allow us to assess the role that venues play in structuring HIV risk and drug use networks, and the possible impact of behavioral interventions targeted at risk behaviors and drug use at the environmental level. This proposal will help the Principal Investigator transition to being an independent researcher in the area of HIV and drug use, while exploiting his current skill set. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Among men who have sex with men (MSM), venues such as bars and clubs can shape both sexual networks and networks of illicit drug use, especially of so-called `club drugs'. We will use statistical models to describe the spatial distribution of illicit drug use and HIV risk behaviors, and develop a dynamic venue-based network model of HIV risk behavior and drug use, which will be parameterized using social network based methods. These models will allow us to assess the role that venues play in structuring HIV risk and drug use networks, and the possible impact of behavioral interventions targeted at risk behaviors and drug use at the environmental level.