Sexualized Drug Use and Chemsex: Their Association with Sexual Health Among Men who have Sex with Men Living in Greece

doi:10.1080/19317611.2022.2045417

. 2022 Mar 14;34(3):450-461.

doi: 10.1080/19317611.2022.2045417. eCollection 2022.

Sexualized Drug Use and Chemsex: Their Association with Sexual Health Among Men who have Sex with Men Living in Greece

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Clinical Research "Subjectivity and Social Bond", Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
² Greek Association of People Living with HIV - Positive Voice, Athens, Greece.
³ Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Chaidari, Greece.
⁴ First Department of Internal Medicine, "Laiko" General Hospital, Athens, Greece.

PMID: 38596273
PMCID: PMC10903580
DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2022.2045417

Sexualized Drug Use and Chemsex: Their Association with Sexual Health Among Men who have Sex with Men Living in Greece

Antonios Poulios et al. Int J Sex Health. 2022.

. 2022 Mar 14;34(3):450-461.

doi: 10.1080/19317611.2022.2045417. eCollection 2022.

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Clinical Research "Subjectivity and Social Bond", Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
² Greek Association of People Living with HIV - Positive Voice, Athens, Greece.
³ Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, Chaidari, Greece.
⁴ First Department of Internal Medicine, "Laiko" General Hospital, Athens, Greece.

PMID: 38596273
PMCID: PMC10903580
DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2022.2045417

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to investigate rates of sexualized drug use (SDU) and chemsex, a type of SDU involving specifically the use of crystal methamphetamine, mephedrone, or GHB/GBL and their association with the rates of negative sexual health outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Greece. Methods: Survey of 485 MSM in internal disease departments and community testing centers. Results: Twenty-eight percent of participants were involved in SDU and 20.4% in chemsex. HIV positive status and recent STI diagnoses were associated with SDU involvement. Conclusion: SDU and chemsex rates and their impact on health reveal the need for informed community-based services.

Keywords: Greece; Sexualized drug use; chemsex; men who have sex with men; sexual health.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

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[1] Amaro, R. (2016). Taking chances for love? Reflections on love, risk, and harm reduction in a gay slamming subculture. Contemporary Drug Problems, 43(3), 216–227. 10.1177/0091450916658295 - DOI

[2] Amaro, R. (2016). Taking chances for love? Reflections on love, risk, and harm reduction in a gay slamming subculture. Contemporary Drug Problems, 43(3), 216–227. 10.1177/0091450916658295 - DOI

[3] Balderson, B. H., Grothaus, L., Harrison, R. G., McCoy, K., Mahoney, C., & Catz, S. (2013). Chronic illness burden and quality of life in an aging HIV population. AIDS Care, 25(4), 451–458. 10.1080/09540121.2012.712669 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Balderson, B. H., Grothaus, L., Harrison, R. G., McCoy, K., Mahoney, C., & Catz, S. (2013). Chronic illness burden and quality of life in an aging HIV population. AIDS Care, 25(4), 451–458. 10.1080/09540121.2012.712669 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Barrett, P., O'Donnell, K., Fitzgerald, M., Schmidt, A. J., Hickson, F., Quinlan, M., Keogh, P., O'Connor, L., McCartney, D., & Igoe, D. (2019). Drug use among men who have sex with men in Ireland: Prevalence and associated factors from a national online survey. The International Journal on Drug Policy, 64, 5–12. 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.11.011 - DOI - PubMed

[6] Barrett, P., O'Donnell, K., Fitzgerald, M., Schmidt, A. J., Hickson, F., Quinlan, M., Keogh, P., O'Connor, L., McCartney, D., & Igoe, D. (2019). Drug use among men who have sex with men in Ireland: Prevalence and associated factors from a national online survey. The International Journal on Drug Policy, 64, 5–12. 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.11.011 - DOI - PubMed

[7] Benotsch, E. G., Lance, S. P., Nettles, C. D., & Koester, S. (2012). Attitudes toward methamphetamine use and HIV risk behavior in men who have sex with men. The American Journal on Addictions, 21, S35–S42. 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00294.x - DOI - PubMed

[8] Benotsch, E. G., Lance, S. P., Nettles, C. D., & Koester, S. (2012). Attitudes toward methamphetamine use and HIV risk behavior in men who have sex with men. The American Journal on Addictions, 21, S35–S42. 10.1111/j.1521-0391.2012.00294.x - DOI - PubMed

[9] Bohn, A., Sander, D., Köhler, T., Hees, N., Oswald, F., Scherbaum, N., Deimel, D., & Schecke, H. (2020). Chemsex and mental health of men who have sex with men in Germany. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 542301. 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.542301 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Bohn, A., Sander, D., Köhler, T., Hees, N., Oswald, F., Scherbaum, N., Deimel, D., & Schecke, H. (2020). Chemsex and mental health of men who have sex with men in Germany. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 542301. 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.542301 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Sexualized Drug Use and Chemsex: Their Association with Sexual Health Among Men who have Sex with Men Living in Greece

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Sexualized Drug Use and Chemsex: Their Association with Sexual Health Among Men who have Sex with Men Living in Greece

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