ssh-chemsex-study-final-main-report

7.4 HARMS RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCE
Nearly half of men discussed the effect of their
engagement in chemsex on their employment, ability
to work effectively and career development. Most
commonly they reported missing work because
of “comedowns”, poor concentration and diminished
cognitive ability, which all had a detrimental impact on
their performance. A small number of men said they
sometimes continued to use drugs such as mephedrone
and ketamine prior to, or during, work in order to
mitigate against tiredness or anxiety. A few participants
reported loss of employment because of the impact of
chemsex on their ability to function at work.
A number of participants talked about the considerable
financial cost of drug use, in particular the high cost
of crystal meth. The longevity of sexual arousal and
common desire to access more sexual partners meant
that further expenses were often incurred in relation to
taxis to and from saunas, private sex parties and dealers,
sauna entrance fees, etc. A few men suggested they had
spent enormous amounts of money over time.
“ I try to really space out the crystal so even if I am
having a weekend of crystal, I’ll try not to have any for
maybe two or three weeks because it’s so exhausting
and expensive in many ways. Because if I’m slamming
and that’s costing a hundred pounds, then all the other
stuff that goes with it, the visits to numerous saunas,
the taxi fares that I don’t care about, spending, the, I
don’t know, all sorts of extra transportation costs and
club ins and outs and you name it, and a couple of
hundred pounds on ketamine, just because I’m at the
dealer and I can’t stop myself buying more than I need,
and giving it away often.
[Aged
”
48, diagnosed HIV positive]
7.5 SOCIAL AND RELATIONAL HARMS
Men frequently talked about how they behaved or related
to other men when having chemsex. While many recalled
looking after others who overdosed, sometimes irritation,
sexual preoccupation, confusion, or disorientation
resulted in men being ignored, stepped over or even
assaulted when they had over-dosed. One man expressed
his shock at behaviour that he considered to be uncaring
when one man had passed out at a party but was left
unattended while sex continued to occur all around him.
“ Seven hours after he passed out he came to, blood
everywhere, vomiting, frothing at the mouth
convulsing, called the ambulance, he was in hospital
for two days. This is normal! Nobody’s sort of horrified,
shocked and who knows what was happening to him
when he was like that, people could stick it in and do
what they like. ”
[Aged 40, last tested HIV negative]
Many participants were critical of the sexually focussed
and inebriated interaction with other men during
chemsex, which stood in stark comparison to other social
relationships, or their ideal romantic relationships. Drug
use was sometimes seen as reducing consideration for
others and promoting sexual selfishness.
“ I think it just makes you really selfish. I think that
crystal makes you selfish, so if you’re a bottom you
really want to get fucked. “My turn now, my turn in the
sling, fist me”, whoever the guy is. I see this. Makes you
selfish. It’ about me, it’s about me.
[Aged 48, diagnosed
”
HIV positive]
Some men also described damage to relationships or
hurt caused to partners, friends and families as a result of
prioritising chemsex over social engagements.
‘...sometimes irritation, sexual
preoccupation, confusion, or
disorientation resulted in men
being ignored, stepped over or
even assaulted when they had
over-dosed.’
The Chemsex Study | 7. NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES AND HARMS ASSOCIATED WITH CHEMSEX 61