Citation

Scholz-Hehn AD, Milin S, Schulte B, Reimer J, Buth S, Schäfer I. J. Drug Iss. 2022; 52(1): 83-96.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Florida State University, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice)

DOI

10.1177/00220426211040564

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Engagement in "chemsex" among men who have sex with men is associated with higher rates of STIs and HIV seroconversion as well as an increased mental health burden. MSM were recruited for an anonymous online survey. The survey included questions of substance use, consumption motives, sexual risk behavior, HIV serostatus, and psychological characteristics. A latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups based on the consumed substances. 597 MSM answered the questionnaire. The latent class analysis revealed four different clusters. Most men described the use of amyl nitrite and cannabis (n = 370). One cluster consumed mainly MDMA, cocaine, and amphetamine (n = 106) and another cluster used mainly chemsex-related drugs (n = 43). A fourth cluster reported a range of consumed substances (n = 78). This cluster reported higher rates of suicide attempts, STIs, and risk behaviors. Substances typically related to chemsex were consumed in a sexualized context to a relevant extent. © The Author(s) 2021.

Language: en

Keywords

MSM; substance use; harm reduction; HIV prevention; chemsex; drug addiction