The prevalence and patterns of substance use by birth cohort among HIV-positive adults in Florida

ABSTRACTObjectives: Antiretroviral therapy is affording longer lifespans for people living with HIV (PLWH), yet factors such as substance use play an increasing role in morbidity and mortality in this population. Though previous studies have examined substance use differences between age cohorts of PLWH, no study has examined the influence of birth cohort on current substance use patterns. Thus, this study investigated the prevalence of past 12-month self-reported substance use between four birth cohorts, <1970 (M age = 54.1), 1970s (M age = 41.5), 1980s (M age = 31.3 years old), and 1990s (M age = 23.2 years old) of PLWH in Florida.Methods: PLWH (N = 934) recruited from community health clinics in Florida completed a questionnaire assessing sociodemographics, health status, and substance use.Multivariate logistic regressions utilizing the <1970 cohort as the referent group examined the relationship between birth cohort and substance use.Results: The 1980s cohort had significantly greater odds of marijuan...