Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1495665
15 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 MARCH 2023 NEWS KARL AZZOPARDI GAY rights activists are rais- ing awareness over risky sexual behaviour in Malta where the increased use of drugs is direct- ly influencing a rise in sexual- ly-transmitted infections and diseases. The Malta Gay Rights Move- ment will convene a webinar for the LGBTIQ community as well as educators and social workers seeking more informa- tion about the phenomenon. Cynthia Chircop, MGRM chairperson, said the use of drugs to enhance sexual expe- rience can open up participants to unsafe sex when not prac- ticed safely. "It may bring up issues around consent and negatively impact participants' social, sex and work life. This is why it's im- portant that people who wish to partake in Chemsex do so responsibly and safely, by en- suring that condoms and lubri- cants are used to diminish STI transmission between partners, taking PrEP/ PEP to protect against HIV, regular STI test- ing, and setting of ground rules and boundaries amongst par- ticipants while sober prior to beginning their activities." Chircop said it was also im- portant that drug parapherna- lia such as needles and snorting equipment are not shared and kept for individual use. "The rule of the thumb re- mains that where a person is having sex with multiple part- ners the risk will be greater. Advocating for abstinence has proven to be no solution, so safer sex guides should be fol- lowed. Internationally there are specialised chemsex guides that can be consulted online in order to ensure everyone is safe. We have been unable to adapt them for Malta simply because the data for Malta does not exist." MGRM campaigns for a com- prehensive updated of Malta's sexual health policy, never up- dated since 2010. "Some of the solutions to re- ducing rates of HIV are to im- prove testing of HIV and other STIs by investing further in the GU clinic and give resources to NGOs such as Checkpoint Malta, which are carrying out community testing sessions. We need to increase education and awareness of preventive measures and testing, and mak- ing contraception, PrEP and PEP more accessible," Chircop said. Chircop also said that the lack of research on the taboo of chemsex continues to be an obstacle for the LGBTIQ+ community. "The situation is worse even more so locally, with practi- cally little no research at all being done on our local chem- sex scene. There are no local statistics on chemsex, and we can only rely on international research on the topic." Drugs are the handmaiden of chemsex – the portmanteau for chemical and sex – and while the 1960s are often hailed as a marker for the proliferation for drugs and a culture of 'free sex', the use of mind-altering sub- stances during sex have a long history. Chemsex involves the intake of psychoactive drugs to en- hance sex, increase desire, and reduce inhibitions during par- ties. Cynthia Chircop says the lack of research on the chemsex scene and its popularity in the queer community requires fur- ther investigation as part of a worldwide phenomenon. Drugs commonly used in chemsex include GHB, or liq- uid ecstasy, mepehdrone, the drug also known Meow Meow, and methampetamines, as well as MDMA, Ketamine, and Am- yl Nitrate (poppers), cocaine, alchol and Viagra. kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt LGBTIQ activists seek more data on chemsex and risky behaviour MGRM chairperson Cynthia Chircop