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A
member of the German Criminal Investigation Division (BKA) displays Crystal
Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth) during a news conference at the BKA office in
Wiesbaden November 13, 2014. © Ralph Orlowski / Reuters
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The rising popularity of
“chemsex,” where people inject themselves with illicit synthetic drugs that
enable them to have sex for days on end, could lead to a rise in HIV cases in
Britain, experts have warned. The practice is mainly found in the homosexual
community, where men use a combination of drugs such as mephedrone, GHB, GBL
and crystal meth to enhance their sex drive and pleasure.
RT UK report continues:
Experts
warn it is unlikely chemsex will remain exclusive to homosexual men.
‘May harm users’ general
health’
An
editorial published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on Tuesday by sexual
health experts said the growing popularity of chemsex will cause HIV and STI
rates in Britain to rise rapidly.
It
added that people participating in chemsex are jeopardizing their sexual and
mental health.
“Chemsex
drug users often describe losing days – not sleeping or eating for up to 72
hours – and this may harm their general health,” it says.
“Users
may present too late to be eligible for post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV
transmission.
“An
increased number of sexual partners may also increase the risk of acquiring
other sexually transmitted infections. Data from service users suggest an
average of five sexual partners per session and that unprotected sex is the
norm.
“Many
barriers exist to chemsex drug users accessing services, including the shame
and stigma often associated with drug use and ignorance of available drug
services.”
‘Chemsex must become
public health priority’
The
Royal College of GPs has warned that chemsex must become a public health
priority.
“Chemsex
is a rapidly emerging pattern of drug use, not just amongst men who have sex
with men as often assumed, but heterosexual patients as well,” Dr Richard Ma of
the Royal College of GPs’ Sex Drugs Group told the Telegraph.
“As
such, it is essential that both patients and healthcare professionals –
including GPs and primary health care teams – are aware of these and take the
issue seriously. The College would agree that chemsex is a public health issue.”
According
to AIDS Map, a recent survey of gay men in London engaging in chemsex showed
high levels of unprotected sex and hepatitis C among both HIV-positive and
HIV-negative men.
Men
who have chemsex are at high risk of overdosing, being hospitalized, losing
consciousness, having panic attacks or convulsions.
Last
week, a 40-year-old man from London appeared in court charged with supplying
four men with large amounts of GHB, a substance often used during chemsex.
Stephen Port was charged
with poisoning and murdering four young men aged between 21 and 25.
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