Efficacy of Chemsex Interventions for Men Who Have Sex with Men [ARTICLE]

Course Details

Course Description

“Chemsex:” the intentional use of psychoactive drugs before or during sexual activity to enhance and prolong the experience. Chemsex represents a significant public health challenge.

This practice, often involving substances like methamphetamine, mephedrone, and GHB/GBL, is associated with high-risk sexual behaviors that can increase the transmission of HIV, hepatitis C, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To address this, a range of interventions have been developed, but their effectiveness has remained unclear.

A systematic review and meta-analysis by Kiriana Lagden sought to fill this knowledge gap by summarizing the effectiveness of bio-behavioural chemsex interventions for men who have sex with men (MSM).

Learning Objectives

Course participants will be able to:

1. Define Chemsex and Identify Associated Health Risks. After reviewing this brief, professionals will be able to define chemsex, including the primary substances involved (methamphetamine, mephedrone, GHB/GBL), and identify the associated high-risk sexual behaviors and health consequences for MSM as outlined in the research, such as unprotected anal intercourse and increased risk of transmitting HIV and other STIs.
2. Differentiate Significant vs. Non-Significant Intervention Outcomes. Following this review, learners will be able to critically assess the primary finding of the meta-analysis, differentiating the one high-risk sexual behavior that was significantly reduced by interventions (episodes of UAI with serodiscordant partners) from other behaviors and substance use metrics where no statistically significant effect was found.
3. Analyze Evidence Limitations and Recommendations for Future Research. Professionals will be able to analyze the key limitations of the current evidence base, including the high risk of methodological bias and the lack of geographic generalizability, and articulate the specific recommendations for future research, such as conducting studies outside the USA and developing interventions for mephedrone and GHB/GBL use. 

NBCC ACEP: 7250

Sexual Addiction Treatment Services

Jennifer Weeks, Ph.D., Director

190 Brodhead Rd, Suite 107 Bethlehem, PA 18017

610.844.7180 | sexualaddictiontreatmentservices.com | jweeks@satshealing.com

Sexual Addiction Treatment Services has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7250. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Sexual Addiction Treatment Services is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.