Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: A rapidly changing pattern of drug use is emerging that requires health services to find new approaches to harm reduction.The widespread use of 'club drugs' has led to many serious harms that have attracted much media attention over the past few years. 1 'Club drugs' are drugs such as methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA or ecstasy), methamphetamine, and ketamine that are used in a recreational fashion to enhance social experience, usually being taken at dance clubs, concerts, and parties.The number of people needing treatment for club drugs has increased; club drug users in England now constitute 5% of all adult presentations for drug treatment and 14% of all presentations by those <18 years of age. 2 Since 2008, the use of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) or 'legal highs' (drugs that are synthesised to mimic the effects of traditional recreational drugs; currently marketed as plant food or bath salts in the UK) has grown exponentially 3 but the latest evidence suggests further trends in who is using drugs and how they are being taken.One such emerging subculture is that of 'chemsex' or 'party and play'.These terms refer to the use of recreational drugs immediately before and/or during sex to facilitate or enhance sexual pleasure.
Authors: Richard Ma, Seán Perera
Institution: Imperial College London
Language: English
Topic: HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Award: In-Practice Fellowship
OpenAlex ID: W2270165648