Exploring experiences of drug use and chemsex among men who have sex with men

Background: Illicit drug use is a prevalent public health concern in the United Kingdom (UK).Men who have sex with men (MSM) are known to have higher rates of illicit drug use and to usedrugs in different ways, compared to other populations. Qualitative research has addressed howMSM understand and think about their drug use. This narrative review aimed to summarise and synthesise qualitative research exploring the experiences of MSM who take drugs.

Method: Three databases (PsychInfo, Web of Science, and Medline) were searched and eleven studies met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Narrative synthesis was used to identify key themes across the studies.

Findings: Most of the findings related to sexualised drug use. Eight themes were identified:Risk, Distress, Self-Confidence, Pleasure, Inhibition, Identity, Specific Contexts and Belonging.

Discussion: Drug use in MSM is a complex area and the experiences of MSM are varied,including factors relating to sexuality, identity and community. Conclusions were limited by the mixed quality of research. Future research would benefit from more robust procedures and could explore identity formation, community dynamics, and sexualised drug use contexts within MSM.