The prevalence of chemsex was reported in 38 of the 112 studies (34%), and was associated with condomless sex, group sex, transactional sex, and negative health outcomes such as sexually transmitted infections and mental health issues (2). Crystal methamphetamine specifically was reported in 38 studies (34%). Of the 112 studies included in the review, methamphetamines were the most commonly reported drug (44 studies, or 39%). explored recreational drug use in men who have sex with men and high-risk sexual practices, sexually transmitted infections, and barriers to accessing specialist support (2). (2018) also investigated the prevalence of sexualized drug use in the UK (9).
examined chemsex in high-income countries (1). broadly examined the issue of sexualized drug use on a global scale (2), while Maxwell et al. Two systematic reviews, published in 2019, examined sexualized drug use among men who have sex with men (1, 2). What we found Sexualized drug use among men who have sex with men This review: explores the impact of sexualized drug use among men who have sex with men, with a particular focus on chemsex (a behaviour) and methamphetamine (a substance associated with chemsex) describes effective interventions to address individual harms associated with each and discusses sex-based sociality, a concept that describes how social life among men who have sex with men may be sexually constructed (7). Use of methamphetamine is of particular concern, as its use is consistently associated with sexual risk behaviours among men who have sex with men (3, 13). Chemsex (also known as ‘party and play’) (10) is a specific subset of sexualized drug use, and has been associated with increased sexual risk behaviours and negative health outcomes (1). ‘Club drugs’, such as cocaine and ecstasy, appear to be less popular than drugs associated with ‘chemsex’, which include methamphetamine, mephedrone, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) (9, 12). In the past decade, drug use trends among men who have sex with men have shifted (9-11).
Among men who have sex with men, aggregate research has identified a relationship between substance use and sexual risk behaviours (8). Sexualized drug use is when recreational drugs are taken in order to facilitate sexual activity (2). Considering the context of sexualized drug use may lead to a better understanding of how methamphetamine is used as a social and sexual resource among men who have sex with men (6) more qualitative research exploring the social-sexual context is needed (7).Several interventions - including motivational interviewing and contingency management - report concurrent, efficacious effects on both methamphetamine use and sexual health-related outcomes among men who have sex with men (5).
Methamphetamine is the most commonly reported drug in sexualized drug use among men who have sex with men (2).Chemsex (1, 2) and methamphetamine use (3, 4) are associated with sexual health-related harms among men who have sex with men.What are effective interventions and/or services that address chemsex and methamphetamine use among men who have sex with men (including prevention, harm reduction, engagement in care and treatment)?.