HIV-positive gays on polydrugs likelier to have condomless sex

A new study has revealed that that polydrug use is common among HIV-positive gay men and is strongly linked to sex without a condom (condomless sex).

The findings show that half of MSM surveyed had used recreational drugs at least once in the previous 3 months and about half of those who used drugs took three or more different types of drugs, while roughly a fifth said they had used five or more different drugs in the past 3 months. Condom use was markedly lower with increasing polydrug use. For example, over three-quarters of participants who said they had used five drugs or more in the past 3 months also reported condomless sex, compared with less than a quarter of those who reported no recent drug use.

Marina Daskalopoulou from University College London in the UK said that their findings show that polydrug use and condomless sex are closely linked in HIV-positive MSM in the UK, and that polydrug users are likely to be a group at increased risk of transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

The researchers also said that the majority of these men would not consider or self-refer to traditional harm reduction services and their study highlights the need for cross-agency collaboration between HIV treatment and drug support organisations to provide tailored services for HIV-positive MSM who use recreational drugs, and with national HIV and STI prevention programmes to address recreational drug use.

However, the authors point out that only a minority (15 percent) of HIV positive MSM reported condomless sex with a partner of HIV-unknown or HIV-negative status, and fewer (7 percent) reported higher-HIV-risk condom-less sex.

The study was published in The Lancet.