Chemsex Practices in PrEP: Beyond Addiction and Risk Toward a Healthy Sex Life—Baseline Experiences from a Hospital-Based PrEP Program in Barcelona, Spain
Lorena de la Mora, Ainoa Ugarte, Maria Martínez‐Rebollar, Elisa de Lazzari, David García Hernández, Guillermo Font, Nicolás de Loredo, Estela Solbes, Laia Miquel, Jordi Blanch, Berta Torres, J. RIERA, Iván Chivite, Juan Ambrosioni, Alexy Inciarte, Ana Gonzalez‐Cordón, Estebán Martínez, José Luís Blanco, Josep Mallolas, Montserrat Laguno
Abstract
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a biomedical intervention that has demonstrated efficacy in HIV prevention in individuals at high-risk, among them chemsex users. Out of 190 PrEP users followed at Hospital Clinic of Barcelona until October 2020, 89% reported drug use, and 63% disclosed that they had engaged in chemsex practices, initiated in 64% of cases within the past year. Twenty-one percent used 3 or more drugs simultaneously, being GHB/GBL, nitrites, sildenafil, and methamphetamine the most prevalent combination. Eight percent reported slamming. Forty-one percent described having had negative experiences and 8% did not remember the last time they had sober sex. Methamphetamine, mephedrone, GHB/GBL, and having had open relationships, group sex, double penetration, and fisting were significantly more prevalent. Forty-nine percent admitted being worried about chemsex use, and 18% said they needed help. A comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach is mandatory to enable the attainment of a healthy approach to one's sex life.