New Challenge for Addiction Care-MSM with Chemsex Consumption Pattern

Abstract

The present article reflects on the need for Men who have sex with men (MSM) with addicted chemsex consumption behavior and presents a specified treatment concept. The individual therapeutic challenges for this group of users consists of the distinct functionalization of substance use for initiating and engaging in sexual activity as well as the resulting strong association between sexual activity and substance use and vice versa. Intensive psychotherapeutic and addiction treatment is needed to decouple substance use and sexual activity, with the ultimate goal of promoting sexual activity without substance use. This treatment initially starts with stimulus control and continues to exposure and re-initiation of sexual activities without substance use. Since the first treatment inquiries through “Aidshilfe Cologne”, the salus klinik Huerth, department of addiction care, has developed a treatment approach for MSM with addicted chemsex behavior, which is focused on the function of drugs for sexual activity and aims at encouraging a lifestyle of engaging in sexual activity without substance use. The article provides information regarding the necessity of a specific treatment approach by comparing initial data about differences between MSM with chemsex as compared to men with other substance use behavior and examines implications for the practice.