ssh-chemsex-study-final-main-report

he told him never to slam, he did and ended up in
hospital for three days because I think – I don’t even
understand it but – why would you allow somebody off
their head to inject in your arm, when they don’t know
what they’re doing, to me that’s lunacy. ”
[Aged 40, last tested HIV negative]
This antipathy to injecting drug use was strong for many
participants, and was often based on the media portrayal
of “heroin junkies”, living in squalor and stealing to feed
their habit. Among slightly older men, who could recall
the 1980s, injecting drug use was inexorably tied up with
portrayals of shared needles, and associated with getting
HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne viruses. While many
participants remained hostile to the idea of injecting,
and avoided men that sought to “slam” when they
encountered them at parties or on websites and apps,
there was a widespread agreement that injecting was
becoming more common on the chemsex scene.
“ I find now that a lot more people are injecting, I
would say well, I mean three years ago when, two or
three years ago like injecting was kind of hush, hush,
you know people would be afraid to ask if you inject
but now a lot more people are injecting.
[Aged 24, diagnosed
”
HIV positive]
Even among the third of participants’ that had injected,
for many there remained an understanding that they had
broken a taboo, or that they had crossed a boundary.
For two men this had led to guilt and remorse and a
conviction that they would not do it again. For others
this taboo about injecting increased the transgressive
nature of chemsex and served to increase the thrill. The
contradiction expressed by the following participant was
not unique – he felt disgusted by injecting until he tried it.
Now he continues to inject even though he says himself it
is “an absolutely stupid thing to do.”
“ When I first saw somebody do it [injecting] I was just
like disgusted. I just thought they were crazy. Why on
earth why would you do that to yourself? […] Then
suddenly I found myself doing it. I was disgusted and
now I’m still disgusted at it. ”
[Aged 23, last tested HIV negative]
Among participants that were not wholly averse to the
notion of injecting drug use, some continued to avoid it
because they were fearful of the process – several were
frightened of needles – and others simply felt that it was
too “aggressive” a means of drug administration for them,
especially for an activity that was about recreation and
fun. Others were curious about slamming but felt that
given their “addictive personalities” they simply could not
risk trying it, even once.
“ It’s just a line I don’t want to cross [...] I suppose
I’m scared of it. I don’t want to become dependent
on drugs in any way, shape or form, let alone
intravenously. And, I suppose, I’m scared of it. I don’t –
I wouldn’t trust myself. I’d become addicted to it. It
would be too good. The high would be too good. And,
I suppose, I’ve seen – rightly, I’ve seen enough horror
stories, predominantly from movies / films / TV, and
that kind of stuff, that I just – I don’t want it to happen
to me. ”
[Aged 28, diagnosed HIV positive]
For those who had injected, this delivery mechanism was
perceived to have several advantages. Some reported
injecting to avoid the after effects of other means of
delivery, such as damaged nasal passages or cold-like
symptoms that could arise from snorting. Others injected
mephedrone or crystal meth because it gave them a
more intense, and / or longer lasting high. The intensity
of the experience via injecting was an attraction to many
and some saw it as a natural progression from other
means of drug administration.
Among participants who injected there was a high level
of understanding about safe injection practices. Clean
needles were always utilised and were never shared, and
maintaining proper precautions and cleanliness was
almost universal in their accounts.
‘This antipathy to injecting drug use was strong
for many participants, and was often based on
the media portrayal of “heroin junkies”, living in
squalor and stealing to feed their habit.’
The Chemsex Study | 4. THE CONTEXT OF CHEMSEX 35