Recreational Drug Use and HIV-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Men Frequenting Gay Social Venues Perry N. Halkitis Jeffrey T. Parsons ABSTRACT. The complex relationships between recreational non-in- jection drug use and HIV sexual risk behaviors have been documented throughout the epidemic. The purpose of this study was to (1) assess the extent of non-injection recreational drug use among gay and bisexual men frequenting gay social venues, as well as to assess recent initiation of substance use, especially “club drugs”; and (2) document the interac- tion between drug use and risky sexual practices. Street recruitment methods were used to administer a survey to 202 gay or bisexual men re- cruited at ten gay social venues in New York City. The majority of par- ticipants reported substance use, and more than half reported the use of drugs other than alcohol. Participation in gay social venues such as bars, dance clubs, and bathhouses was associated with more substance use. Polydrug use, participation in gay venues, and HIV status were found to Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Applied Psychology at New York University, 239 Greene Street, East 537G, New York, NY 10003 (E-mail: perry. halkitis@nyu.edu). Jeffrey T. Parsons, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at Hunter College, City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021 (E-mail: jeffrey.parsons@hunter.cuny.edu). The authors would like to thank Thomas Borkowski, David Bimbi, and Aongus Burke for their work on this project, as well as Drs. Ron Stall and Jay Paul for sharing the findings of the Urban Men’s Health Study. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, Vol. 14(4) 2002 http://www.haworthpressinc.com/store/product.asp?sku=J041 2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. 19