Sexualized Drug Use and Chemsex: Their Association with Sexual Health Among Men who have Sex with Men Living in Greece
Αντώνιος Πούλιος, Άννα Αποστολίδου, Stavroula Triantafyllidou, Konstantinos Protopapas, Athanasios Tapeinos, Georgios Papadopetrakis, Martha Papadopoulou, Anastasia Antoniadou, Mina Psichοgiou, Lissy Canellopoulos
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.