CHEMSEX AND HIV



CHEMSEX & HIV  BY LOYCE KNIGHT OKUTA
Chemsex is also known as chemfun, party and play or PNP. It involves using one or more drugs to enhance sex; it can last for many hours at a time, and often with multiple sexual partners
Chemsex is a term used for people having sex while on drugs. Although the practice is most common among groups of gay men, between couples or in larger party settings, it’s becoming increasingly common among straight people too.  
Taking drugs for chemsex is different to drinking alcohol or taking drugs recreationally. This is because the associated drugs, or “chems”, which are used to deliberately enhance sexual experiences also induce a different kind of sexual disinhibition among users.
Usually people do it to alter the physical sensations they have during sex (increased pleasure and ability to have sex for longer), or to change their psychological experiences (increasing their confidence or removing inhibitions or embarrassment).
 
Drugs used for chemsex
There are three popular drugs used during chemsex: 
  • gammahydroxybutyrate/gammabutyrolactone (also known as GHB/GBL, G or Gina) 
  • mephedrone (meph or meow)
  • crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth)
They are sometimes taken on their own or together with alcohol or other drugs (such as cocaine or ecstasy).
Risks of chemsex
Chemsex drugs are mind-altering substances, so if you mix them with sex you’re increasing your risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a number of different ways:
  • with less physical inhibitions you’re less likely to use condoms, even if you intend to beforehand.
  • you may not remember what activities you’ve taken part in and whether you used condoms.
  • if you’re involved in a long session, you might forget to take your pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication, increasing your vulnerability to HIV if you’re not using condoms
  • if you’re living with HIV, you might forget to take your HIV medication, which helps to keep you undetectable and uninfectious to your partners
  • you may have sex with a number of people, who may or may not be HIV positive, increasing your chances of exposure to HIV
  • you may have more forceful sex than you’re used to, because of the anaesthetic effects of drugs like GHB. The thin lining of the anus can be easily damaged or torn through forceful, unlubricated anal sex, increasing the risk of HIV infection and other STIs, including Hepatitis C.
  • you can 'lose time' as a result of long lasting sex sessions – this may affect your chances of preventing HIV transmission with emergency post-exposure prophylaxis treatment (PEP), which needs to be taken within 72 hours of infection to be effective
  • if you inject mephedrone or crystal meth with shared needles (otherwise known as slamming), you’re increasing your risk of both HIV and hepatitis C infection
  • Participating in chemsex is never 100% safe, but there are precautions you can take to stay safe and protect yourself from HIV. 
The potency of drugs like GHB also affects your wider health and safety. GHB increases your chances of ‘passing out’, leaving you more vulnerable to sexual assault. Whatever the circumstances, and whatever drugs you may have taken prior to sexual activity, remember that sexual assault is never acceptable and is never your fault. 
Exhaustion or crashing is also common after a drug session (also known as a comedown), as well as psychological dependence or, with the overconsumption of substances, an overdose which can be fatal.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

TYPES OF HIV TEST

1.Antibody tests The most common HIV test is an antibody test. Antibodies are part of your immune system that are produced when you come into contact with an infection. Antibody tests look for this immune response. These tests can be finger-prick tests or use blood samples sent to a laboratory. If this result is negative or non-reactive, then you are HIV negative. If the result is positive this does not mean that you definitely have HIV, although it is likely. A small percentage of people can have a ‘false-positive’ result. All positive results need to be confirmed by a second test. In the UK a more sensitive antibody test called a western blot test is usually used to confirm a positive result. The western blot test takes longer (usually a week). It identifies genuine positive results. HIV antibody tests do not work as soon as you are infected because it usually takes four weeks for your body to generate antibodies to HIV. The time between infection and when your body ...
Read more

WITCHCRAFT AND HIV

Myth is a widely held but false idea or belief,on the other hand witchcraft is the practice of and belief in magical skills and abilities exercised by solitary practitioners. It is a central to many African conceptions of illness, disease causation and etiology. It varies culturally depending with the society. In many countries especially African countries people belief that HIV/AIDS is a spell that is cursed on a person through witchcraft.since an HIV/AIDS infected person may show signs like diarrhea and loss of weight which are classic symptoms of poisoning through witchcraft, suspicion of is retained as potential explanation for the ultimate reason behind the infection. The infected person would then consulte a witchdoctor for medication thus leading to more deaths since they can not find proper medication to prolong their lives.Men and women who believe HIV/AIDS is spread through witchcraft are less likely to use protection (condoms) during sexual intercourse.   ...
Read more

DRUG ABUSE CONTRIBUTION TO HIV/AIDS SPREAD

DRUG ABUSE CONTRIBUTION TO HIV /AIDS SPREAD Drug abuse is the over or under use  of any substance that alternates the normal functioning of the body. Drug abuse has been a great contributor to the spread  of HIV/AIDS. Do drugs contribute to the Spread  of HIV and how? It  increases the likely hood  of users to engage in high-risk  sexual practice   with infected individuals. Drug abuse also interferes with  effectiveness  of HIV treatment. Addicts may engage in sexually risky behaviors to obtain drugs or money for drugs. Sharing of needles while doing  drugs also exposes users to  infection since no one really  bothers about  the status of the other drug user. Abuse of substance      increases cancer risk ( ie)  most HIV patients  are smokers hence increased  incidence of lung cancer shortening the lifespan of the patient . Research shows that drug abuse causes greater  injury to...
Read more