{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,6]],"date-time":"2026-10-06T00:31:25Z","timestamp":1791246685490,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":61,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,22]],"date-time":"2023-06-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1687392000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100005492","name":"Stanford University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100005492","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Global and local literature depicted the pervasiveness of chemsex among men who have sex with men (MSM), yet there is limited evidence on adolescents and youth. Though literature showed their engagement in chemsex, further exploration is warranted about their socio-sexual contexts and implications. Therefore, this article explored the contexts and implications of chemsex on young and adolescent MSM. This article is extracted from qualitative research evidence, and research data are triangulated by programmatic evidence on adolescent and young MSM from two ongoing pilot interventions. The key motivational factors for engaging in chemsex were primarily rooted in the dynamics of their peer networks. Specifically, the onset of drug use is predominantly attributed to curiosity toward experimentation with methamphetamine, peer influence, propensity to lose weight, and increasing courage to approach potential sexual partners. Moreover, they continued taking drugs as it enhanced their sexual performance, thus perpetuating chemsex. Additionally, the findings revealed several sexual implications of methamphetamine, e.g., bolstering their sexual \u201cstamina,\u201d increasing their propensity toward sexual violence, and reducing their decision-making abilities and judgment, thus collectively decreasing condom use. In essence, chemsex is considerably driven by their socio-sexual contexts, thus perpetuating sexual risk behaviors and compromising sexual health outcomes. Therefore, harm reduction interventions targeted need to be designed keeping in mind their socio-sexual dynamics and age.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1124971","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]],"date-time":"2023-06-23T16:01:44Z","timestamp":1687536104000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["An uncharted territory of sexualized drug use: exploring the dynamics of chemsex among young and adolescent MSM including self-identified gay men in urban Dhaka, Bangladesh"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Samira Dishti","family":"Irfan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Golam","family":"Sarwar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Junyed","family":"Emran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sharful Islam","family":"Khan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1007\/s11011-014-9496-5","article-title":"Psychiatric disorders in individuals with methamphetamine dependence: prevalence and risk factors","volume":"29","author":"Akindipe","year":"2014","journal-title":"Metab. Brain Dis."},{"key":"ref2","year":"2013"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-69819-5","volume-title":"Remaking HIV prevention: the promise of TasP, U= U and PrEP.","author":"Bernays","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1383","DOI":"10.1007\/s12119-021-09814-z","article-title":"Alcohol and drug use surrounding sex among men who have sex with men in India","volume":"25","author":"Bhambhani","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sexual Cult"},{"key":"ref5","author":"Bourne","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qual. Res. Psychol."},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.2174\/1570159X13666141210215423","article-title":"GHB pharmacology and toxicology: acute intoxication, concentrations in blood and urine in forensic cases and treatment of the withdrawal syndrome","volume":"13","author":"Busardo","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr. Neuropharmacol."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100348","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ssmph.2018.100348","article-title":"The syndemic of violence victimisation, drug use, frequent alcohol use, and HIV transmission risk behaviour among men who have sex with men: cross-sectional, population-based study in India","volume":"7","author":"Chakrapani","year":"2019","journal-title":"SSM Popul Health"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"52","DOI":"10.1097\/NUR.0b013e3181996ae5","article-title":"Phenomenology: A qualitative method","volume":"23","author":"Chamberlain","year":"2009","journal-title":"Clin. Nurse Spec."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"418","DOI":"10.1521\/aeap.2005.17.5.418","article-title":"Substance use, substance choice, and unprotected anal intercourse among young Asian American and Pacific islander men who have sex with men","volume":"17","author":"Choi","year":"2005","journal-title":"AIDS Educ. Prev."},{"key":"ref11","first-page":"435","article-title":"Trustworthiness in qualitative research","volume":"25","author":"Connelly","year":"2016","journal-title":"Medsurg Nurs."},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1085","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1360-0443.2009.02564.x","article-title":"A review of the clinical pharmacology of methamphetamine","volume":"104","author":"Cruickshank","year":"2009","journal-title":"Addiction"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"465","DOI":"10.1111\/dar.12958","article-title":"Harmless? A hierarchical analysis of poppers use correlates among young gay and bisexual men","volume":"38","author":"Demant","year":"2019","journal-title":"Drug Alcohol Rev."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e29640","DOI":"10.5812\/ijhrba.29640","article-title":"A qualitative study of the relationship between methamphetamine abuse and sexual dysfunction in male substance abusers","volume":"5","author":"Dolatshahi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int J High Risk Behav Addict"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"762","DOI":"10.2174\/1570159X15666161117151148","article-title":"When \u201cchems\u201d meet sex: a rising phenomenon called \u201cchemsex\u201d","volume":"15","author":"Giorgetti","year":"2017","journal-title":"Curr. Neuropharmacol."},{"key":"ref161","article-title":"Bangladesh Penal Code 377","year":"1972"},{"key":"ref160","article-title":"Revised Narcotic Control Act","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"597","DOI":"10.46743\/2160-3715\/2003.1870","article-title":"Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative research","volume":"8","author":"Golafshani","year":"2003","journal-title":"Qual. Rep."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2018.04.005","article-title":"Ice parties among young men who have sex with men in Thailand: pleasures, secrecy and risks","volume":"55","author":"Guadamuz","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"249","DOI":"10.1080\/09502386.2018.1435702","article-title":"The rise of chemsex: queering collective intimacy in neoliberal London","volume":"33","author":"Hakim","year":"2019","journal-title":"Cult. Stud."},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1331","DOI":"10.1081\/JA-200066900","article-title":"Explanations for methamphetamine use among gay and bisexual men in new York City","volume":"40","author":"Halkitis","year":"2005","journal-title":"Subst. Use Misuse"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"180","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2018.04.002","article-title":"Chemsex and mental health as part of syndemic in gay and bisexual men","volume":"55","author":"Halkitis","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref21","volume-title":"Harm reduction report","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1136\/eb-2013-101494","article-title":"Understanding triangulation in research","volume":"16","author":"Heale","year":"2013","journal-title":"Evid. Based Nurs."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1704","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph19031704","article-title":"High rates of sexualized drug use or chemsex among Brazilian transgender women and young sexual and gender minorities","volume":"19","author":"Jalil","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"ref24","first-page":"121","article-title":"Post-traumatic stress disorder in children","volume":"4","author":"Kaminer","year":"2005","journal-title":"World Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12981-18-0201-3","article-title":"Increases in condomless chemsex associated with HIV acquisition in MSM but not heterosexuals attending a HIV testing center in Antwerp, Belgium","volume":"15","author":"Kenyon","year":"2018","journal-title":"AIDS Res Ther"},{"key":"ref26","first-page":"1","article-title":"Methamphetamine use and Chemsex: an emerging threat for gender and sexually diverse people","volume-title":"Handbook of substance misuse and addictions: From biology to public health","author":"Khan","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2019.07.009","article-title":"Understanding the reasons for using methamphetamine by sexual minority people in Dhaka, Bangladesh","volume":"73","author":"Khan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"479","DOI":"10.1007\/s10508-020-01674-2","article-title":"The effects of methamphetamine use on the sexual lives of gender and sexually diverse people in Dhaka, Bangladesh: A qualitative study","volume":"50","author":"Khan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Arch. Sex. Behav."},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2018.11.014","article-title":"Chemsex behaviours among men who have sex with men: a systematic review of the literature","volume":"63","author":"Maxwell","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103630","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2022.103630","article-title":"Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and adherence experiences of gay and bisexual men who engage in chemsex: a qualitative study","volume":"103","author":"Maxwell","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1080\/10673220591003605","article-title":"Implications of chronic methamphetamine use: a literature review","volume":"13","author":"Meredith","year":"2005","journal-title":"Harv. Rev. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1177\/1558689812437100","article-title":"Triangulation and mixed methods research: provocative positions","volume":"6","author":"Mertens","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Mixed Methods Res."},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1176","DOI":"10.1080\/09540120902729999","article-title":"Methamphetamine initiation among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men","volume":"21","author":"Nakamura","year":"2009","journal-title":"AIDS Care"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1007\/S40037-019-0509-2","article-title":"How phenomenology can help us learn from the experiences of others","volume":"8","author":"Neubauer","year":"2019","journal-title":"Perspect Med Educ"},{"key":"ref35","author":"Nevendroff","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.1136\/ebnurs-2019-103145","article-title":"Triangulation in research, with examples","volume":"22","author":"Noble","year":"2019","journal-title":"Evid. Based Nurs."},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"485","DOI":"10.1111\/hiv.12629","article-title":"Chemsex and new HIV diagnosis in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men attending sexual health clinics","volume":"19","author":"Pakianathan","year":"2018","journal-title":"HIV Med."},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2704","DOI":"10.1038\/npp.2016.75","article-title":"Human pharmacology of mephedrone in comparison with MDMA","volume":"41","author":"Papaseit","year":"2016","journal-title":"Neuropsychopharmacology"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"106","DOI":"10.3138\/cjhs.2019-0052","article-title":"Sexualized drug use in virtual space: A scoping review of how gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men interact online","volume":"29","author":"Patten","year":"2020","journal-title":"Can. J. Hum. Sex."},{"key":"ref41","volume-title":"Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice","author":"Patton","year":"2014"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1111\/hiv.12574","article-title":"Sexualized drug use (\u2018chemsex\u2019) and high-risk sexual behaviours in HIV-positive men who have sex with men","volume":"19","author":"Pufall","year":"2018","journal-title":"HIV Med."},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"207","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2018.03.014","article-title":"Sexualised drug use among sexual minority young adults in the United States: the P18 cohort study","volume":"55","author":"Ristuccia","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1662","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm10081662","article-title":"Chemsex practices and health-related quality of life in Spanish men with HIV who have sex with men","volume":"10","author":"Ruiz-Robledillo","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Clin. Med."},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psc.2013.02.005","article-title":"Neurologic manifestations of chronic methamphetamine abuse","volume":"36","author":"Rusyniak","year":"2013","journal-title":"Psychiatr. Clin. North Am."},{"key":"ref46","first-page":"1","volume-title":"The coding manual for qualitative researchers","author":"Salda\u00f1a","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref490","article-title":"\u201cChemsex Webinar\u201d, Harm Reduction Network, Asia-Pacific","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e00202420","DOI":"10.1590\/0102-311X00202420","article-title":"Chemsex practice among men who have sex with men (MSM) during social isolation from COVID-19: multicentric online survey","volume":"36","author":"Sousa","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cad. Saude Publica"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1108\/DAT-10-2018-0058","article-title":"Chemsex: Origins of the word, a history of the phenomenon and a respect to the culture","volume":"19","author":"Stuart","year":"2019","journal-title":"Drugs Alcohol Today"},{"key":"ref49","volume-title":"(treatment improvement protocol (TIP) series, no. 41.) 2 types of groups commonly used in substance abuse treatment","year":"2005"},{"key":"ref50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1186\/s13011-021-00353-2","article-title":"Social capital and chemsex initiation in young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men: the pink carpet Y cohort study","volume":"16","author":"Tan","year":"","journal-title":"Subst. Abuse Treat. Prev. Policy"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103333","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2021.103333","article-title":"Exploring the role of trauma in underpinning sexualised drug use (\u2018chemsex\u2019) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Singapore","volume":"97","author":"Tan","year":"","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref52","volume-title":"Funding request concept note 2020\u20132023","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"23","DOI":"10.1177\/1757913918778872","article-title":"Sexualised drug taking among men who have sex with men: a systematic review","volume":"139","author":"Tomkins","year":"2019","journal-title":"Perspect. Public Health"},{"key":"ref54","first-page":"2018","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.1177\/1049731504265834","article-title":"Adolescent substance abuse treatment: A synthesis of controlled evaluations","volume":"14","author":"Vaughn","year":"2004","journal-title":"Res. Soc. Work. Pract."},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1394","DOI":"10.1007\/s10461-011-0131-8","article-title":"A review of the literature on event-level substance use and sexual risk behavior among men who have sex with men","volume":"16","author":"Vosburgh","year":"2012","journal-title":"AIDS Behav."},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1360-0443.2004.00857.x","article-title":"On the learning curve: the emerging evidence supporting cognitive\u2013behavioral therapies for adolescent substance abuse","volume":"99","author":"Waldron","year":"2004","journal-title":"Addiction"},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2011.07.016","article-title":"Patterns and levels of illicit drug use among men who have sex with men in Asia","volume":"120","author":"Wei","year":"2012","journal-title":"Drug Alcohol Depend."},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1080\/10532528.2000.10559786","article-title":"Does alcohol lead to sexual risk behavior? Findings from event-level research","volume":"11","author":"Weinhardt","year":"2000","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Sex Res."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1124971\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,23]],"date-time":"2023-06-23T16:01:55Z","timestamp":1687536115000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1124971\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,22]]},"references-count":61,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1124971"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2023.1124971","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,22]]},"article-number":"1124971"}}