Motivations and values associated with combining sex and illicit drugs (‘chemsex’) among gay men in South London: findings from a qualitative study

Abstract

Analysis revealed that sexualised drug use provides both motivation and capability to engage in the kinds of sex that some gay men value: sex that explores and celebrates adventurism. Those services providing (talking) interventions to men engaging in chemsex should consider these benefits of sexualised drug use alongside the harms arising.

Sexualized drug use (‘chemsex’) and high‐risk sexual behaviours in HIV‐positive men who have sex with men

“…Indeed, the 1-year reference period for the measures is a limitation of the study, with relationships between chemsex and specific sexual practices better analysed using sexual encounter-level data. Despite this, previous reports from the UK have indicated that chemsex is often associated with more sexual partners, higher HIV risk sex, and not taking antiretroviral drugs, meaning that there is an increased likelihood that participants would have had a detectable viral load during their chemsex sessions [6,[9][10][11]13,36,37].…”

The management of methamphetamine use in sexual settings among men who have sex with men in Malaysia

“…The motivation for using MA to achieve sexual capacity and sexual qualities idealised by gay men have been well described in the literature (Halkitis et al, 2005; Jerome, Halkitis, & Siconolfi, 2009; Leonard et al, 2008; Weatherburn, Hickson, Reid, Torres-Rueda, & Bourne, 2017). Sexual pleasure was the primary reason for continuing MA use although there was evidence that some participants were using MA as a habit or when they experienced cravings (Newton, De La Garza, Kalechstein, Tziortzis, & Jacobsen, 2009).…”

Illicit drug use among New Zealand gay and bisexual men: Prevalence and association with sexual health behaviours

“…These include the following: minority stress, whereby drugs are used as a coping mechanism in response to heterosexism and homophobia; cognitive escape, where certain drugs are valued for their disinhibitory effect; greater exposure to drugs in gay bars and clubs, which are important social spaces for gay communities; and sexual sensation seeking, where drugs are specifically used to enhance sexual pleasure and experimentation . Where such factors coexist, drug use among GBM can be understood as a response to experiences of isolation, discrimination, prejudice, anxiety, fear of rejection or disinhibition , although some researchers have argued that these explanations underplay pleasure and stigmatise drug use .…”