{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T19:16:11Z","timestamp":1791400571422,"version":"4.3.3"},"reference-count":53,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"23","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,4]],"date-time":"2020-12-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1607040000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100005564","name":"Gilead Sciences","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["BE-2020-00004"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["BE-2020-00004"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100005564","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100010877","name":"ViiV Healthcare","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["GSK12"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["GSK12"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100010877","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Sensoa vzw","award":["13605"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["13605"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Chemsex is a growing public health concern, with little evidence-based care and support available. The aim of this study is to understand current risk reduction practices, and the information and care needs of gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) who engage in chemsex. Between January and March 2020, semi structured in-depth interviews with drug-using GBMSM (n = 20) were conducted. Data were analyzed thematically. The reported preparatory measures were: deliberately scheduling chemsex sessions, and discussing preferences regarding setting and attendees. During the event, a logbook is kept to monitor drugs taken by each participant. People try to take care of each other, but this is often counteracted. Respondents highlighted needs: reliable and easily-accessible information, anonymous medical and psychological healthcare, chemsex-specific care, and a value-neutral safe space to talk about chemsex experiences. Results imply two types of users: planned and impulsive users. Adherence to intended harm reduction practices are complicated by drug effects, peer pressure, and feelings of distrust among users.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17239081","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,7]],"date-time":"2020-12-07T12:24:39Z","timestamp":1607343879000},"page":"9081","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":52,"title":["Harm Reduction Practices and Needs in a Belgian Chemsex Context: Findings from a Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8663-6410","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Corinne","family":"Herrijgers","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Karolien","family":"Poels","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Communication Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Heidi","family":"Vandebosch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Communication Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5906-4530","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tom","family":"Platteau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium"},{"name":"Department of Psychology, Open University, 6400 Heerlen, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0956-4067","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jacques","family":"van Lankveld","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, Open University, 6400 Heerlen, The Netherlands"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7004-9120","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eric","family":"Florence","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1071\/SH17153","article-title":"Thinking upstream: The roles of international health and drug policies in public health responses to chemsex","volume":"15","author":"Stevens","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sex. Health"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.1136\/jfprhc-2016-101576","article-title":"Sex, drugs and self-control: Why chemsex is fast becoming a public health concern","volume":"42","author":"Macfarlane","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Fam. Plan. Reprod. Health Care"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Maxwell, S., Shahmanesh, M., and Gafos, M. (2019). Chemsex behaviours among men who have sex with men: A systematic review of the literature. Int. J. Drug Policy.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2018.11.014"},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Bourne, A., Reid, D., Hickson, F., Torres, S., and Weatherburn, R.P. (2014). The Chemsex Study: Drug Use in Sexual Settings among Gay & Bisexual Men in Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham, Sigma Research."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","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":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2016.09.007","article-title":"Illicit drug use among gay and bisexual men in 44 cities: Findings from the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS)","volume":"38","author":"Schmidt","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1136\/jfprhc-2016-101603","article-title":"A chemsex crucible: The context and the controversy","volume":"42","author":"Stuart","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Fam. Plan. Reprod. Health Care"},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Van Acker, J. (2017). Plan. Chem? Plan. Slam? Les Plans \u201cSous Prod.\u201d, Universit\u00e9 Saint-Louis."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Evers, Y.J., Van Liere, G.A.F.S., Hoebe, C.J.P.A., and Dukers-Muijrers, N.H.T.M. (2019). Chemsex among men who have sex with men living outside major cities and associations with sexually transmitted infections: A cross-Sectional study in the Netherlands. PLoS ONE, 14.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0216732"},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Knoops, L., Bakker, I., Van Bodegom, R., and Zantkuijl, P. (2015). Tina En Slammen: MSM, Crystal Meth.-Gebruik En Het Injecteren van Drugs in Een Seksuele Setting, Mainline."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1415","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(14)61849-3","article-title":"Phone apps could help promote sexual health in MSM","volume":"384","author":"Kirby","year":"2014","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2016.10.007","article-title":"Social norms related to combining drugs and sex (\u201cchemsex\u201d) among gay men in South London","volume":"38","author":"Ahmed","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"598","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans-2015-052014","article-title":"Sex, drugs and smart phone applications: Findings from semistructured interviews with men who have sex with men diagnosed with Shigella Flexneri 3a in England and Wales","volume":"91","author":"Gilbart","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sex. Transm. Infect."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tan, R.K.J., Wong, C.M., Chen, M.I.C., Chan, Y.Y., Bin Ibrahim, M.A., Lim, O.Z., Chio, M.T.W., Wong, C.S., Chan, R.K.W., and Chua, L.J. Chemsex among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Singapore and the challenges ahead: A qualitative study. Int. J. Drug Policy, 2018.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2018.10.002"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1108\/DAT-09-2018-0043","article-title":"Chemsex Experiences: Narratives of Pleasure","volume":"19","author":"Milhet","year":"2019","journal-title":"Drugs Alcohol Today"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans-2016-052695","article-title":"Motivations and values associated with combining sex and illicit drugs (chemsex) among gay men in South London: Findings from a qualitative study","volume":"93","author":"Weatherburn","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sex. Transm. Infect."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nutt, D., King, L.A., Saulsbury, W., and Blakemore, C. (2007). Development of a rational scale to assess the harm of drugs of potential misuse. Lancet, 1047\u20131053.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(07)60464-4"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14105","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2016-014105","article-title":"Prevalence and clinical impact of recreational drug consumption in people living with HIV on treatment: A cross-sectional study","volume":"7","author":"Garin","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"494","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans-2017-053439","article-title":"Changes in recreational drug use, drug use associated with chemsex, and HIV-related behaviours, among HIV-negative men who have sex with men in London and Brighton, 2013\u20132016","volume":"94","author":"Sewell","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sex. Transm. Infect."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","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":"ref_21","first-page":"17","article-title":"The chemsex study: Executive summary","volume":"13","author":"Bourne","year":"2014","journal-title":"Age"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"222","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2010.08.010","article-title":"Patterns of polydrug use in Great Britain: Findings from a national household population survey","volume":"113","author":"Smith","year":"2011","journal-title":"Drug Alcohol Depend."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.021","article-title":"Gender and race\/ethnic differences in the persistence of alcohol, drug, and poly-substance use disorders","volume":"174","author":"Evans","year":"2017","journal-title":"Drug Alcohol Depend."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lynskey, M.T., Agrawal, A., Bucholz, K.K., Nelson, E.C., and Madden, P.A. (2006). Subtypes of Illicit Drug Users: A Latent Class. Analysis of Data from an Australian Twin Sample, Cambridge University Press.","DOI":"10.1375\/twin.9.4.523"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Romanelli, F., and Smith, K.M. (2004). Recreational use of sildenafil by HIV-positive and -negative homosexual\/bisexual males. Ann. Pharmacother., 1024\u20131030.","DOI":"10.1345\/aph.1D571"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2017.10.008","article-title":"Chemsex, risk behaviours and sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men in Dublin, Ireland","volume":"52","author":"Glynn","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kenyon, C., Wouters, K., Platteau, T., Buyze, J., and Florence, E. (2018). Increases in condomless chemsex associated with HIV acquisition in MSM but not heterosexuals attending a HIV testing center in Antwerp, Belgium. AIDS Res. Ther., 15.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12981-018-0201-3"},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.1097\/OLQ.0000000000000753","article-title":"Chemsex among men who have sex with men: A sexualized drug use survey among clients of the sexually transmitted infection outpatient clinic and users of a gay dating app in Amsterdam, the Netherlands","volume":"45","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sex. Transm. Dis."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","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":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kohli, M., Hickson, F., Free, C., Reid, D., and Weatherburn, P. (2019). Cross-sectional analysis of chemsex drug use and gonorrhoea diagnosis among men who have sex with men in the UK. Sex. Health.","DOI":"10.1071\/SH18159"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2018.01.020","article-title":"Mental health, drug use and sexual risk behavior among gay and bisexual men","volume":"55","author":"Prestage","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tomkins, A., George, R., and Kliner, M. (2019). Sexualised drug taking among men who have sex with men: A systematic review. Perspectives in Public Health, SAGE Publications Ltd.","DOI":"10.1177\/1757913918778872"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Weatherburn, P., Hickson, F., Reid, D.S., Schink, S.B., Marcus, U., and Schmidt, A.J. (2013). The European Men-who-have-sex-with-men internet survey (EMIS): Design and methods. Sexual. Res. Soc. Policy, 243\u2013257.","DOI":"10.1007\/s13178-013-0119-4"},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"(2020, October 29). Chemseks Een Verkennend Onderzoek in de Context van MSM & Trans.* Prostitutie\/Sekswerk in Het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest En Erbuiten. Available online: https:\/\/www.academia.edu\/44114653\/ALIAS_vzw_2020_Verkennend_onderzoek_bij_MSM_en_trans_studenten_die_actief_zijn_in_prostitutie_sekswerk_in_het_Brussels_Hoofdstedelijk_Gewest_en_erbuiten."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1171","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2015.07.013","article-title":"\u201cChemsex\u201d and harm reduction need among gay men in South London","volume":"26","author":"Bourne","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"h5790","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.h5790","article-title":"What is chemsex and why does it matter?","volume":"351","author":"McCall","year":"2015","journal-title":"Br. Med. J."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102927","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2020.102927","article-title":"Digital chemsex support and care: The potential of just-in-time adaptive interventions","volume":"85","author":"Platteau","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"568","DOI":"10.1136\/sextrans-2015-052405","article-title":"How to assess gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men for chemsex","volume":"92","author":"Pakianathan","year":"2016","journal-title":"Sex. Transm. Infect."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.1177\/0956462417719643","article-title":"How can those engaging in chemsex best be supported? An online survey to gain intelligence in greater Manchester","volume":"29","author":"Tomkins","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. STD AIDS"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(13)60032-X","article-title":"High-risk drug practices tighten grip on London gay scene","volume":"381","author":"Kirby","year":"2013","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101074","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pmedr.2020.101074","article-title":"Sexual, addiction and mental health care needs among men who have sex with men practicing chemsex\u2014A cross-sectional study in the Netherlands","volume":"18","author":"Evers","year":"2020","journal-title":"Prev. Med. Rep."},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"Owens, A. (2020). Qualitative Research Methods, SAGE Publications. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kallio, H., Pietil\u00e4, A.M., Johnson, M., and Kangasniemi, M. (2016). Systematic methodological review: Developing a framework for a qualitative semi-structured interview guide. J. Adv. Nurs., 2954\u20132965.","DOI":"10.1111\/jan.13031"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schecke, H., Lea, T., Bohn, A., K\u00f6hler, T., Sander, D., Scherbaum, N., and Deimel, D. (2019). Crystal methamphetamine use in sexual settings among German men who have sex with men. Front. Psychiatry, 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2019.00886"},{"key":"ref_45","unstructured":"Schmidt, A., and Weatherburn, P. (2018). European MSM Internet Survey, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1080\/17437199.2015.1077155","article-title":"A taxonomy of behaviour change methods: An intervention mapping approach","volume":"10","author":"Kok","year":"2016","journal-title":"Health Psychol. Rev."},{"key":"ref_47","first-page":"142","article-title":"A Practical guide to effective behavior change: How to identify what to change in the first place","volume":"16","author":"Peters","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur. Health Psychol."},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","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":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1071\/SH17142","article-title":"Chemsex among men who have sex with men in Germany: Motives, consequences and the response of the support system","volume":"15","author":"Graf","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sex. Health"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1097\/QCO.0000000000000234","article-title":"Illicit drug use and its association with sexual risk behaviour among MSM","volume":"29","author":"Bourne","year":"2016","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"36","DOI":"10.1108\/DAT-10-2018-0062","article-title":"The psychological roots of chemsex and how understanding the full picture can help us create meaningful support","volume":"19","author":"Evans","year":"2019","journal-title":"Drugs Alcohol Today"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2017.12.016","article-title":"Demand for and availability of specialist chemsex services in the UK: A cross-sectional survey of sexual health clinics","volume":"55","author":"Wiggins","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Drug Policy"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Janghorban, R., Roudsari, R.L., and Taghipour, A. (2014). Skype Interviewing: The New Generation of Online Synchronous Interview in Qualitative Research. Int. J. Qual. Stud. Health Well-Being, 9.","DOI":"10.3402\/qhw.v9.24152"}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/17\/23\/9081\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T10:41:50Z","timestamp":1760179310000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/17\/23\/9081"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,4]]},"references-count":53,"journal-issue":{"issue":"23","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,12]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph17239081"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph17239081","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,12,4]]}}}