Transcript Who`s using what? - All Wales Sexual Health Network

Gay men and drugs:
getting the message across
Richard Scholey, Terrence Higgins Trust
Defining ‘drugs’
THT drugs research & work includes:
• illicit substances subject to Misuse of
Drugs Act
• GBL (gamma butyrolactone)
• alcohol
• anabolic steroids
• poppers (amyl nitrite inhalants)
• erectile dysfunction meds (eg, Viagra)
• tranquilisers/benzodiazipines
Defining ‘gay’
MSM = ‘men who have sex with men’
From…
men who don’t identify as gay or bisexual,
may have sex with women too, maybe only
loosely part of the gay subculture (if at all)
To…
‘out’ gay men with strong attachment
to the gay scene, mostly having sex
only with men.
Commonly held beliefs
• Gay men as hedonistic ‘party animals’
• Higher disposable income
• Risk takers and trend setters
• Their drug use is social (maybe sexual)
 Stimulants not depressants or opiates
 Drug use not linked to crime or
anti-social behaviour
Gay v heterosexual drug use
• Gay men use more drugs
• Use them for longer
• Use a wider variety
• Poly drug use the norm
• Drugs to facilitate sexual activity
• Early adaptors of drug trends
from overseas
Drugs gay men use
Used in last year (%) weekly use (%)
Alcohol
Tobacco
Poppers
Cannabis
Viagra
Ecstasy
Cocaine
Ketamine
92
40
44-50
26-35
17
17-24
13-22
4-13
67
40
12
7
3.5
2.5
2
1.5
Used in last year (%) weekly use (%)
Speed
Tranquilisers
GHB/GBL
LSD
Crystal meth
Crack cocaine
Heroin
7-19
4
3-7
3-6
3-5
1.5-4
1-3
1
1.2
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Gay men, drug use and HIV risk
• Most studies come from US
• Crystal meth and poppers main drivers
of infections
• Main UK study (INSIGHT) found the
only drug linked with HIV infection was
poppers
• Key factor with poppers is not
disinhibiting effect but physical effect
on rectum
Getting messages to gay men
• Web
68%
• Booklets
55%
• Press articles
51%
• Press ads
39%
• Talking to a professional
22-32%
(not in venues)
• Groups/workshops
20%
• Talking to an outreach workers 18%
(in venues)
• Helpline
18%
More research
• www.sigmaresearch.org.uk
• Consuming passions (2005 sex survey)
• Who’s using what? summary of 2007 drug
& alcohol findings
• Sigma Research reports due soon:
 full 2007 sex survey data
 new drugs report:
Part #1: review of strategy and policies.
Part #2: experiences of ca. 50 men
with problematic drug and alcohol use