1. getting the message across
Gay men and drugs:
getting the message across
Richard Scholey, Terrence Higgins Trust

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

6. 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

7. Drugs gay men use Alcohol 92 67 Tobacco 40 40 Poppers 44-50 12
Used in last year (%) weekly use (%)
Alcohol
Tobacco
Poppers
Cannabis
Viagra
Ecstasy
Cocaine
Ketamine

8. Speed 7-19 1 Tranquilisers 4 1.2 GHB/GBL 3-7 0.5 LSD 3-6 0.3
Used in last year (%) weekly use (%)
Speed
Tranquilisers
GHB/GBL
LSD
Crystal meth
Crack cocaine
Heroin

9. 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

10. Getting messages to gay men
Web %
Booklets %
Press articles %
Press ads %
Talking to a professional %
(not in venues)
Groups/workshops %
Talking to an outreach workers 18%
(in venues)
Helpline %

16. 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
We were acutely aware of the controversy in the 1980’s where poppers were suspected of being the cause of AIDS and have tried to be careful in saying that it is in fact UAI that is the risk activity with popper use an exacerbating factor
We are not trying to put men off having sex