There is an association between
recreational drug use, high-risk sexual activity and sexually transmissible
infections. Studies have shown a higher prevalence of drug use in those
accessing sexual health services; however, there are minimal data on the
proportion with problematic recreational drug use. We aimed to understand
whether sexual health clinics could identify problematic drug and alcohol use
as a novel referral pathway into treatment services.
Males attending two sexual
health clinics in London completed questionnaires. Data were collected on
demographics; gender of sexual partner; use of alcohol and recreational drugs;
if they felt they had problematic use of drugs, alcohol or both; and if they
had sought help for their problematic use.
In total, 867 males completed
the questionnaire; 387 (44.7%) were men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM had
significantly higher lifetime use of any drug compared with non-MSM (80.6% vs.
62.5%; P < 0.0001). Thirty-five (4.7%) self-identified problematic drug or
alcohol use, with no difference between MSM and non-MSM (6.3% vs. 3.5%; P =
0.08). Of those with problematic drug or alcohol use, 20 were currently or had
been engaged with a treatment service and 15 had never engaged with treatment
services. MSM were more likely to have ever sought help for drug or alcohol
problems compared with non-MSM (P = 0.003).
Some individuals attending
sexual health clinics with problematic drug use have not engaged with treatment
services. It is therefore appropriate to develop screening tools for sexual
health clinics to identify these individuals and novel referral pathways to
engage them in treatment services.
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at:
Clinical Toxicology, Guy’s
and St Thomas’ National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust and King’s Health
Partners, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
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