Substance Use, Sexual Identity, and Health Care Provider Use in Men Who Have Sex With Men

This article describes the association between substance use, sexual identity, and seeing a health care provider on a regular basis for 257 men who have sex with men (MSM). Data from in-person interviews were gathered from MSM who resided in Massachusetts between 2003 and 2007. A logistic regression analysis that controlled for demographic characteristics, health insurance status, HIV/AIDS status, drug use, and social support revealed that MSM who identified as heterosexual, compared with those who identified as gay or bisexual, were 60%% less likely to access a health care provider on a regular basis. Further, the likelihood of seeing a provider regularly was 54%% lower for MSM who had used illegal drugs in the past 30 days and 32%% higher for MSM who had more social support. Study limitations and implications are discussed.</.