nursingmanagement.org

Volume 12 Issue 7

Exploration of Mental Health Elements in Chemsex Behavior: Interventions, Influencing Factors, and Attitudes towards Risk and Harm Reduction in Spain

Pablo Del Pozo-Herce,Alberto Tovar-Reinoso,Antonio Martínez-Sabater,Elena Chover-Sierra,Teresa Sufrate-Sorzano,Carlos Saus-Ortega,Javier Curto-Ramos,José Manuel Padilla-Brito,Carlos González-Navajas,Enrique Baca-García,Raúl Juárez-Vela andEva García-Carpintero Blas
1Department of Psychiatry, Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain
2Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de la Fundación Jiménez Díaz, 28040 Madrid, Spain
3UNIE Universidad, 28040 Madrid, Spain
4Nursing Care and Education Research Group (GRIECE), GIUV2019-456, Nursing Department, Universitat de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
5Care Research Group (INCLIVA), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
6Internal Medicine, Consorci Hospital General Universitari de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain
7Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Research Group in Care GRUPAC, University of La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain
8Nursing School La Fe, Adscript Centre, University of Valencia, 46026 Valencia, Spain
9Research Group GREIACC, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46016 Valencia, Spain
10Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology and Mental Health, La Paz University Hospital, 28046 Madrid, Spain

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increase in the practice of chemsex, which is becoming an increasingly serious public health problem. The complex interaction between chemsex and mental health underscores the need to understand the psychological, social, and environmental factors that influence this practice. Methods: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was conducted in the community of Madrid, Spain to explore the depth of the chemsex phenomenon through a thematic analysis. Between April and June 2024, interviews were conducted with 15 MSM (gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men) who participate in these practices, using purposive and snowball sampling. Results: three main themes were identified, namely, (T1) contextualization of the practice, (T2) factors associated with chemsex, and (T3) strategies and interventions for risk and harm reduction. Conclusion: Chemsex is a phenomenon that combines sexual practices with substance use in complex social environments, presenting significant risks to physical, mental, and sexual health. It is necessary to implement public health interventions to mitigate these risks.
Keywords: chemsex; men who have sex with men; harm reduction; qualitative research; sexual behavior