Understanding Sexualized Drug Use: Substances, Reasons, Consequences, and Self-Perceptions among Men Who Have Sex with Other Men in Spain

Daniel Íncera-Fernández, Francisco J. Román, Santiago Moreno-Guillén and Manuel Gámez-Guadix ()
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Daniel Íncera-Fernández: Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Francisco J. Román: Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Santiago Moreno-Guillén: Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Alcalá de Henares, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Manuel Gámez-Guadix: Department of Biological and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Sexualized drug use (SDU) has been identified as a health risk factor among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). This study aimed to analyze the associations between SDU frequency and a broad set of substances, motives, consequences, and self-perceptions. Sampling was conducted through an online survey. The final sample consisted of 185 GBMSM aged between 18 and 78 years old (mean age = 38.38, SD = 11.52) who engaged in SDU. We analyzed the frequency of SDU in terms of practicing it “once,” “moderately” (“once a month or less” or “a few times a month”), or “frequently” (from “once a week” to “daily”) during the previous 18 months. A questionnaire was administered through which sociodemographic variables, substances, reasons, consequences, and self-perceptions of SDU practice were analyzed. Participants who did so frequently were significantly more likely to use mephedrone, methamphetamine, and GHB/GBL than those who performed SDU less often (large effect sizes). In addition, habitual SDU was associated with motivations to achieve pleasurable emotions and sensations and manage negative feelings. Health implications, such as blackout moments, were also significantly related to frequent SDUs. Finally, those who practiced frequent SDU perceived it as a severe problem and wanted to control it. These data indicate the importance of raising awareness of chemsex as a public health problem among GBMSM. Specific identification, education, and prevention programs need to be strengthened to reduce the incidence of the most undesirable implications of SDU among GBMSM.

Keywords: sexualized drug use; chemsex; men who have sex with men; sexual minorities; motives; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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