Substance Use as a Mechanism for Social Inclusion among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Vancouver, Canada

Hawkins, Blake; Armstrong, Heather; Kesselring, Sarah; Rich, Ashleigh J; Cui, Zishan; Sereda, Paul; Howard, Terry Lee; Forrest, Jamie I; Moore, David; Lachowsky, Nathan J.; Hogg, Robert S.; Roth, Eric Abella

doi:10.1080/10826084.2019.1621901

Cited by 20 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…This study’s results corroborate previous studies ( 38 - 41 ) , which report that the use of drugs in a sexual context considerably increases risky behaviors (unprotected sexual intercourse) due to decreased risk perception. Hence, MSM who practice chemsex are more likely to acquire HIV and other STIs, to practice group sex or sex with more than one partner in the same night, to decrease adherence to the antiretroviral treatment among HIV positive patients and to protective measures such as de PrEP, which was reported by approximately 30% of the MSM addressed in this study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Factors associated with chemsex in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic

Chone

Lima

Fronteira

et al. 2021

Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem

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Objective: to investigate the factors associated with the practice of sex under the influence of drugs (chemsex) among Portuguese men who have sex with men during the period of social distancing to prevent the COVID-19. Method: online survey applied in May 2020 to a sample of 1,301 participants living in Portugal, recruited according to Respondent Driven Sampling and via social media Facebook®. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed along with logistic regression to calculate adjusted Odds Ratio (ORa). Results: the prevalence of chemsex was 20.2%. The likelihood of practicing chemsex increased with group sex (ORa: 28.4, 95%CI 16.93–47.49); unprotected sex (ORa: 7.1 95%CI 4.57–10.99); the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent COVID-19 (ORa: 4.2, 95%CI 2.71–6.39) and COVID-19 testing (ORa: 1.9, 95%CI 1.15–3.10). Conclusion: the practice of chemsex among men who have sex with men during the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal was very frequent and may support greater understanding of the role and impact of sexual behavior on the COVID-19 transmission rates and the current pandemic situation in Portugal.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Factors associated with chemsex in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic

Chone

Lima

Fronteira

et al. 2021

Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem

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“…In this analysis, we explored emergent themes related to the ways in which substance use during sexual activity promotes and hinders positive sexual expression and healthy sexual relationships among MSM living with HIV. Although studies have addressed other interrelated motives for substance use (e.g., self-medication, coping with minority stressors [ 46 , 47 ]), with a small subset of published work describing the ways in which substance use during sexual activity can facilitate social connectedness and a sense of belonging among MSM [ 48 – 50 ], few have (1) examined positive sexual or relational motivations for substance use in MSM living with HIV from a qualitative perspective, (2) described substance use in the context of intersectional stigma, and (3) discussed the implications of these motivations for clinical care [ 46 , 48 , 49 , 51 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“It’s how we get to know each other”: Substance use, connectedness, and sexual activity among men who have sex with men who are living with HIV

et al. 2022

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Background Among MSM, substance use increases risk for acquiring HIV and is associated with sub-optimal engagement in HIV-related care. Most research related to substance use and sexual activity among MSM focuses on identifying and reducing risk of HIV acquisition and transmission rather than pleasure and agency. However, substance use may also facilitate sexual pleasure and build community, which could be particularly meaningful for individuals who cope with intersecting stigmas related to the disease, sexual identity, and drug use. Methods To explore the ways in which substance use both promotes and hinders positive sexual expression and healthy sexual relationships, we conducted a secondary analysis of 33 semi-structured qualitative interviews with MSM living with HIV who were poorly engaged in care and reported recent substance use. Results Thematic analysis revealed that substance use was perceived as: (1) a potential pathway to intimacy and enhanced sexual experiences; (2) a tool to help access partners and gain entry to a community; and (3) a source of empowerment, though some noted that it sometimes came at the cost of sexual disempowerment and unbalanced relationships. Conclusions Clinically, our results suggest that the complex motivations for substance use during sexual activity need to be carefully considered and discussed with patients, especially when attempting to decrease problematic use as a pathway to improved HIV self-care.

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“…In general, those identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are more likely to use an array of drugs and have higher rates of substance use than the general population (Duncan et al 2019;Ostrow and Stall 2008;Prestage et al 2018; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2020). While overarching reasons tend to be socio-cultural in nature, for example, coping with societal stigmas, or peer pressure for social inclusion in a minority community historically centered around bars and nightlife (Green and Feinstein 2012;Hawkins et al 2019;Meyer 2003), we posit that higher rates of poppers use among gay males are largely attributable to their reported vasodilatory effects facilitating anal intercourse and sexual pleasure (Romanelli et al 2004;Vaccher et al 2020). Nevertheless, the role of socio-cultural factors should not be understated and can be framed using Zinberg's theory on drug, set, and setting.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Use of “Poppers” among Adults in the United States, 2015-2017

Yockey

Palamar

2020

Journal of Psychoactive Drugs

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We sought to estimate the prevalence as well as demographic and drug use-related correlates of poppers use among adults in the United States. Data were analyzed from adult participants (ages 18-64) in the 2015-2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (N = 115,744), a nationally representative survey of non-institutionalized adults in the US. An estimated 3.3% of adults have ever used poppers. Over a third (35.1%) of gay men are estimated as having ever used poppers. Estimates were lower for heterosexual (3.7%) and bisexual males (11.3%), and for heterosexual (1.8%), bisexual (4.8%), and lesbian women (6.3%). In the multivariable model, compared to male heterosexuals, gay men were at increased odds for reporting lifetime popper use (aOR = 24.64, p<.001), and bisexual men (aOR = 3.55, p <.001), lesbian women (aOR = 1.86, p =.010), and bisexual women (aOR = 1.33, p =.049) were at increased odds for lifetime use. Having a college degree was associated with increased odds for use, and lifetime use of marijuana, ecstasy/MDMA/ Molly, cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine, tranquilizers, and/or opioids were associated with higher odds for use. Gay men in particular are at high risk for use. Results can help inform prevention efforts, particularly in sexual minority populations.

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Substance Use as a Mechanism for Social Inclusion among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Vancouver, Canada

Cited by 20 publications

References 55 publications

Factors associated with chemsex in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic

Factors associated with chemsex in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic

“It’s how we get to know each other”: Substance use, connectedness, and sexual activity among men who have sex with men who are living with HIV

Use of “Poppers” among Adults in the United States, 2015-2017

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