Health-related challenges faced by men who had sex with other men amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of sexualized drug use (chemsex): A literature review

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread effects, impacting various aspects of human life, including sexual behaviors and substance use activities. This article aims to review and synthesize findings from existing published and unpublished research regarding health-related issues related to sexualized drug use (chemsex) among men who had sex with men (MSM) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The information was gathered from various databases, and 21 articles were included in this review. The results focused on the following seven health-related aspects: (i) Trends in chemsex practices among MSM during the pandemic; (ii) sexual behaviors and drug usage issues among MSM during the pandemic; (iii) mental and psychological health issues among MSM participating in chemsex during the pandemic; (iv) challenges and obstacles regarding health-care service access for MSM during the pandemic; (v) health disparity issues among MSM during the pandemic; (vi) digital health technology offering health care to MSM during the pandemic; and (vii) health-care interventions related to MSM engaging in chemsex during the pandemic. During the pandemic, targeted interventions were required that not only focused on mitigating physical health risks but also on addressing the mental health and socioeconomic challenges faced by MSM participating in chemsex. Moreover, digital health technologies and telemedicine offered promising avenues to provide necessary services remotely during the COVID-19.