Addiction Causing Unsafe Sex Among Gay and
Bisexual Men
By Dr. Fourkan Ali
Drug abuse is a common
occurrence on the party scene, and particularly on the gay party scene. It is
common for those who like to party to develop illnesses such as cocaine,
ecstasy ormephedrone meow meow
addiction. Mephedrone is a very
strong stimulant drug and is commonly referred to as meow meow or m-cat. This
drug has been growing in popularity in the gay scene and is often used by those
practising ‘chemsex’.
Chemsex is the word used to describe those who
engage in sex while under the influence of specific drugs such as mephedrone.
It is mostly used to describe men who have sex with men. In most instances, the
drugs make the users more inclined to take risks, and many are having
unprotected sex, which is leading to a host of sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs).
Chemsex Drugs
According to David Stuart, who is a
substance-use lead at a London sexual health clinic, gay sex has long been
associated with drug use. He spoke of a number of new drugs, including
mephedrone and methamphetamine that cause users to lose their sexual
inhibitions, resulting in high-risk practice without condoms.
Professor Jane Anderson from Homerton Hospital
is a consultant HIV physician who agrees that certain drugs are causing more
and more people to engage in unsafe sex. She also said that individuals are
starting to inject these drugs too, which could lead to negative consequences.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
A new survey has revealed that a third of gay
and bisexual men cannot be sure if they have HIV, with almost a quarter
admitting to never having been checked for the virus. Experts have revealed
that more people are being tested for HIV than ever before, but only
seventy-seven per cent of gay men say they have been tested. The survey of
15,300 men was conducted by Sigma Research at the London School of Hygiene
& Tropical Medicine, and it aims to give some insight into the sexual health
of men who are gay and bisexual.
Terrence Higgins Trust’s head of health and
promotion, Cary James, said, “We’re concerned that a third of gay men are not
definite about their HIV status – particularly as we know that one in seven men
who have sex with men are undiagnosed. Knowing your HIV status is key to
tackling the HIV epidemic, as people who are on treatment are highly unlikely
to pass on the virus, so it’s really important to get tested.”
Education
The survey highlighted the fact that more gay
and bisexual men need to be educated on the risks of unsafe sex. One in five
men were still unsure if they could pass on HIV by kissing while around
twenty-five per cent did not realise that the risk of passing on HIV was
reduced with effective treatment for the virus.
Mr James said, “Myths about how HIV is
transmitted create fear and stigma, which can discourage people from finding
out their HIV status. These findings reaffirm the need to normalise HIV testing
and bust the most common misconceptions.”
Preventing Infection
The survey also found that a third of gay men
are not using condoms when having anal sex with a partner. Although only seven
per cent of men admitted to taking chemsex drugs such as mephedrone, GBH, and
methamphetamine in the previous four weeks, forty-two per cent of those with
HIV believed that drugs and/or alcohol had played a role in them becoming
infected with the virus.
The lead researcher on the study, Dr Ford
Hickson, said, “Although chemsex remains a reality for a relatively small proportion
of gay and bisexual men, the potential for harm from it is very high. It is
important to provide specialist support for men on the chemsex scene. Combining
sex and drugs can easily become compulsive and can increase sexual risk
taking.”
A 2014 study of HIV-infected people found that
more than half had used drugs in the previous three months and around a quarter
had used more than three different drugs. Another study carried out in 2013 by
the sexual health clinic where Mr Stuart works found that almost forty-three
per cent of gay men who attended the clinic every month used chemsex drugs.
Mephedrone Meow Meow Addiction
Those who take mephedrone meow meow are at
risk of developing an addiction to the drug. Because it produces feelings of
alertness, euphoria and affection towards others, it is a popular chemsex drug.
There is still much to learn about the drug as it is quite new, but one thing
is certain – mephedrone meow meow addiction is a real illness.
Initial reports are suggesting that users of
this drug can develop a powerful psychological dependence on it. And as they
become tolerant to the effects, they will feel the need to take more and more
of it, which could lead to disastrous consequences. While mephedrone can make
people feel alert and euphoric, it can also result in episodes of anxiety and
paranoia. The drug has also been known to overstimulate the heart and the
nervous system, which can lead to hallucinations and fits.
Sources: website
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