“Chem sex is a rapidly growing problem in New Zealand that is putting gay and bisexual men at risk of HIV and a range of health concerns associated with P use and addiction,” says NZAF Executive Director, Shaun Robinson. Robinson says the NZAF have been seeing an increasing number of men accessing the health service who are unhappy with their P use and the risks and problems it is causing them. “It is pretty clear that the pattern of men going for days without sleep and often being unable to recall everything that happened is quite common.” he says. “In these situations it is likely that many men will not be able to seek PrEP in time to be effective if they suspect that they have taken a risk with HIV.” Robinson says anecdotal feedback is coming from all parts of the community and health sector to suggest that this is becoming an increasingly problematic issue in New Zealand. Despite no national statistics linking Chem sex to infections of HIV, Robinson says that people at the NZAF are certainly aware of several cases where gay men have contracted the virus while being part of Chem sex party scenes. “People who are part of the scene tell us that there is very little condom use in the Chem sex scene and many men are relying on those with HIV having undetectable viral load to protect them from HIV, but clearly this is not working for everyone and does not prevent the spread of Syphilis or Gonorrhoea,” he says. “Clearly P is also a highly addictive and illegal drug and men need to be very aware of the major down sides to it and risks that go with its use,” he says. Robinson says while PrEP has some potential to keep men safer in this situation, it is not yet available in New Zealand and it has to be taken four times a week to be effective. He says that the NZAF are currently working on the availability of PrEP here. Noted as a major issue in England, Australia and other parts of the world, the NZAF is working together with Body Positive and other sexual health and drug and alcohol related services to develop a response to this growing problem.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 18th November 2015 - 10:35am