Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine substance use and HIV risk behaviors among a community sample of Black and Coloured South Africans. Eligible participants aged 18 and above were recruited from one historically Black and one historically Coloured township in Cape Town. Blacks and Coloureds were about equally as likely to use at least one soft drug (e.g., cannabis). Coloureds were more likely to use at least one hard drug, with methamphetamines being most common. Alcohol before sex was the primary “driver” of having unprotected sex and served as a mediator of other risk factors such as drug use before sex and problem drinking. Furthermore, hard drug users were much more likely to use soft drugs than vice versa. The independent and mediating role of soft drugs suggest that soft drug (vs. hard drug) use should not be overlooked at least in the context of HIV prevention.
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