Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Let’s talk about chemsex and pleasure: the missing link in chemsex services

Let’s talk about chemsex and pleasure: the missing link in chemsex services The purpose of this paper is to document the experience of current and former methamphetamine users on their crystal meth use patterns and on their use of services related to their chemsex practice.Design/methodology/approachFor qualitative component, two focus groups were formed with nine current users of methamphetamine and eight former users. Thematic analysis was performed to know their experiences.FindingsAll participants were already engaging in chemsex with various substances before they first started using methamphetamine. Methamphetamine use led some to slam (methamphetamine or mephedrone injection). Some participants report that their sexual experiences were intensified early in their chemsex practice. They reported feeling more confident with their partners, feeling like they are sexually attractive and overcoming their barriers to sexuality. The intensification of methamphetamine use and, in particular, injection change the positive perception of sexual life. Thus, for some participants, substance use takes more space and their sexual experiences become less satisfactory.Practical implicationsParticipants report the services that address the phenomenon of chemsex are still scarce in Quebec province. In addition, the few services available aim to relearn a sober sexuality. However, the mourning of the positive aspects of chemsex on sexual experiences seems still very little discussed. Greater consideration of positive chemsex experiences is needed in services that address this issue.Originality/valueThis project documented the perception of pleasure related to sexual practices among regular methamphetamine users. Their perception of pleasure will help develop services adapted to their reality. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Drugs and Alcohol Today Emerald Publishing

Let’s talk about chemsex and pleasure: the missing link in chemsex services

Download PDF
8 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/let-s-talk-about-chemsex-and-pleasure-the-missing-link-in-chemsex-0kDFeXbeFZ
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
1745-9265
DOI
10.1108/dat-10-2018-0045
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to document the experience of current and former methamphetamine users on their crystal meth use patterns and on their use of services related to their chemsex practice.Design/methodology/approachFor qualitative component, two focus groups were formed with nine current users of methamphetamine and eight former users. Thematic analysis was performed to know their experiences.FindingsAll participants were already engaging in chemsex with various substances before they first started using methamphetamine. Methamphetamine use led some to slam (methamphetamine or mephedrone injection). Some participants report that their sexual experiences were intensified early in their chemsex practice. They reported feeling more confident with their partners, feeling like they are sexually attractive and overcoming their barriers to sexuality. The intensification of methamphetamine use and, in particular, injection change the positive perception of sexual life. Thus, for some participants, substance use takes more space and their sexual experiences become less satisfactory.Practical implicationsParticipants report the services that address the phenomenon of chemsex are still scarce in Quebec province. In addition, the few services available aim to relearn a sober sexuality. However, the mourning of the positive aspects of chemsex on sexual experiences seems still very little discussed. Greater consideration of positive chemsex experiences is needed in services that address this issue.Originality/valueThis project documented the perception of pleasure related to sexual practices among regular methamphetamine users. Their perception of pleasure will help develop services adapted to their reality.

Journal

Drugs and Alcohol Today – Emerald Publishing

Published: Aug 8, 2019

Keywords: Pleasure; MSM; Chemsex; Addiction services; Methamphetamine use; Sexual services

References

  • Attitudes toward methamphetamine use and HIV risk behavior in men who have sex with men
    Benotsch, E.G.; Lance, S.P.; Nettles, C.D.; Koester, S.
  • Substance use among men who have sex with men: patterns, motivations, impacts and intervention development need
    Bourne, A.; Weatherburn, P.
  • ‘Chemsex’ and harm reduction need among gay men in South London
    Bourne, A.; Reid, D.; Hickson, F.; Torres-Rueda, S.; Steinberg, P.; Weatherburn, P.
  • The rush to risk when interrogating the relationship between methamphetamine use and sexual practice among gay and bisexual men
    Bryant, J.; Hopwood, M.; Dowsett, G.W.; Aggleton, P.; Holt, M.; Lea, T.; Drysdale, K.; Treloar, C.
  • ‘Just not all ice users do that’: investigating perceptions and potential harms of Australia’s Ice Destroys Lives campaign in two studies
    Douglass, C.H.; Early, E.C.; Wright, C.J.C.; Palmer, A.; Higgs, P.; Quinn, B.; Dietze, P.M.; Lim, M.S.C.
  • The pleasure in context
    Duff, C.
  • Applying a sexual health model to the assessment and treatment of Internet sexual compulsivity
    Edwards, W.M.
  • Crystal methamphetamine use and sexual risk behaviors among HIV-positive and HIV-negative men who have sex with men in South Florida
    Forrest, D.W.; Metsch, L.R.; Lalota, M.; Cardenas, G.; Beck, D.W.; Jeanty, Y.
  • When ‘Chems’ meet sex: a rising phenomenon called ‘ChemSex’
    Giorgetti, R.; Tagliabracci, A.; Schifiano, F.; Zaami, S.; Marinelli, E.; Bursado, F.C.
  • The new MTV generation: using methamphetamine, Truvada™, and Viagra™ to enhance sex and stay safe
    Hammoud, M.A.; Vaccher, S.; Jin, F.; Bourne, A.; Haire, B.; Maher, L.; Lea, T.; Prestage, G.
  • Chemsex as edgework: towards a sociological understanding
    Hickson, F.
  • Pleasure and drugs
    Holt, M.; Treolar, C.
  • Attitudes and perceived social norms toward drug use among gay and bisexual men in Australia
    Lea, T.; Hammoud, M.; Bourne, A.; Maher, L.; Jin, F.; Haire, B.; Bath, N.; Gierson, J.; Prestage, G.
  • Intimate strangers? Social networks in HIV-prevention groups for drug users
    Lyons, T.; Madkins, K.; Karia, P.; Garner, G.
  • Chemsex behaviours among men who have sex with men: a systematic review of the literature
    Maxwell, S.; Shahmanesh, M.; Gafos, M.
  • HIV risk behaviors among a sample of heterosexually identified men who occasionally have sex with another male and/or a transwoman
    Reback, C.J.; Larkins, S.
  • Getting off: development of a model program for gay and bisexual male methamphetamine users
    Reback, C.J.; Veniegas, R.; Shoptaw, S.
  • The sexual health model: application of sexological approach to HIV prevention
    Robinson, B.E.; Bockting, W.O.; Simon Rosser, B.R.; Miner, M.; Coleman, E.
  • Application of the sexual health model in the long-term treatment of hypoactive sexual desire and female orgasmic disorder
    Robinson, B.E.; Muuns, R.A.; Weber-Main, A.M.; Lowe, M.A.; Raymond, N.C.
  • Illicit drug use among gay and bisexual men in 44 cities: findings from the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS)
    Schmidt, A.J.; Bourne, A.; Weatherburn, P.; Reid, D.; Marcus, U.; Hickson, F.
  • Le visage de l’hépatite C est-il en train de changer à Montréal? AFRAVIH 2016, communication orale
    Trottier, B.; Machouf, N.; Galanakis, C.; Longpré, D.; Vézina, S.; Poliquin, M.; Huchet, E.; Lavoie, S.; Bédard, C.; Thomas, R.
  • Motivations and values associated with combining sex and illicit drugs (‘chemsex’) among gay men in South London: findings from a qualitative study
    Weatherburn, P.; Hickson, F.; Reid, D.; Torres-Rueda, S.; Bourne, A.
  • New health promotion for chemsex and y-hydroxybutirate (GHB)
    Winstock, A.