A sexual practice that is not recommended by doctors, but is commonly practiced in Spain.
Therapists warn that chemsexespecially clapconsisting in the use of drugs to maintain sexual relations over a long period and with different sexual partners, cause intense disinhibition and decreased cognitive and emotional perception of the risk of contracting infections sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).
Experts warn that although preventive treatment has reduced the number of HIV cases, HIV cases are on the rise. gonorrhea, chlamydiaincluding LGV, and syphilis. This was revealed at the last National Congress of Internal Medicine – the 19th Congress of the Canarian Society of Internal Medicine (Socami) and the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI).
The assembled experts note that over the past decade In Spain, an increase in the incidence of all these infections has been recorded among men and women.
Reportedly Jorge Del Romero GuerreroMedical Director of the Sandoval Medical Center, part of the Madrid Clinical Hospital, “not all drug use for the maintenance of sexual relations is considered chemsex.” Although there is no clear scientific consensus on its definition, chemsex is defined as: “Intentional use of drugs, mainly mephedrone (or other synthetic cathinones), methamphetamine and GHB/GBL, and other substances (often with polydrug addiction); engage in sexual relations, usually in groups (“sessions, chills”), over a long period of time (from several hours to days) in the sociocultural context of the LGBTI community.”
The most commonly used substances for “chemsex” and “slam”
Consumption in chemsex This varies depending on the region where it is practiced. However, the most commonly used substance is mephedrone (“mephe”). which belongs to the pharmacological family of synthetic cathinones. These substances are chemically modified to evade international controls, resulting in more than 220 options.
Some of them, such as Alpha (Alpha-PVP) or Monkey Dust (Alpha-PiHP), are “10 times stronger than cocaine”they report. The use of “methamphetamine (“tina”) and GHB/GBL (“chorry”)” and associated use of other substances such as ketamine, cocaine, tussie (or pink cocaine), popper and others are also widespread. Also often, Drug use is associated with the use of erection enhancers, especially sildenafil.
“Our experience shows that currently mephedrone (synthetic cathinones) are the most common substance, followed by GHB and popper. Except, There has been an increase in intravenous drug use (especially mephedrone and methamphetamine), a phenomenon known as “popping” or “popping”. According to them, “the prevalence of slam has increased significantly in recent years. When it comes to people who practice chemsex, the vast majority are men who have sex with men (MSM) and transwomen (the majority of whom are sex workers). That is, “This phenomenon is very specific to the LGBTI community,” Del Romero explains.
Physical health risks
“Drug use, by its very nature, involves disinhibition and a reduced perception of STI risk,” Del Romero warned. “In recent years, the high preventive effectiveness of HIV transmission, shown by ART and PrEP, reduced the perception of risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV and therefore Condom use has dropped significantly among MSM. This led to decline in HIV diagnoses and steady increase in cases of gonorrhea, chlamydia/LGV and syphilis” according to trends Romero has observed at the Sandoval Center.
On the other hand, “slapping” or “slapping” and “fisting” (inserting a hand into the rectum), Practices closely associated with chemsex facilitate the transmission of hepatitis C virus. (HCV). In Sandoval, the vast majority of cases of acute hepatitis C are diagnosed in MSM, chemsex users, some of which are associated with this practice. Instead of, The diagnosis of hepatitis B is rare. and are carried out mainly on unvaccinated migrants. “Stroke is also associated with multiple complications such as cellulitis, phlebitis or abscesses,” he reports.
“Not all substances used in chemsex are equally harmful to health. For example, “The side effects of methamphetamine are very different from those of poppers.”– he points out. Thus, among chemsex consumers “there is a risk of developing addictive pathology and is especially associated with certain substances (tina, mefe and G); although the route of drug administration (oral, inhalation, inhalation, smoking, injection, topical) also has a significant impact,” explains Romero.
On the other hand, “episodes of acute intoxication can put people’s lives at risk, especially with the use of GHB, which has a very narrow safety margin, and in case of overdose or repeated use of other depressants (alcohol, ketamine…) it can cause acute poisoning that could prove fatal,” he adds.
Chemsex and mental health
But chemsex carries not only risks for physical health, but also also for mental health.
“Whether it is the onset of a sudden mental disorder or an exacerbation of a previous underlying pathology, we see complications associated with anxiety, depression, including suicidal thoughts and behaviorDel Romero reports.
Cotton “This accelerates and worsens psychotic symptoms and leads to an increased incidence of serious psychiatric complications,” he warns.
On the other hand, there is also rsocial and legal consequences associated with chemsexbecause “chemsex affects not only the user, but also the family, work and social environment of each person. The main crimes associated with the practice of chemsex are directed against public health (in connection with the possession and trafficking of drugs) and against sexual freedom, since we must not forget that chemsex is present in the practice of chemsex,” says the expert.
Taking all this into account, it is true that “non-problematic drug use” may be possible in some people, but “it must be taken into account that chemsex can be addictive, especially among younger users.” For this reason, the expert warns: “Ensure that the ongoing practice of chemsex/slam does not imply a high risk of addiction and therefore controlled long-term use can occur, particularly in adolescents and young adults.” This is an unrealistic and potentially harmful message.“