Crystal methamphetamine use in British Columbia, Canada: A cross-sectional study of people who access harm reduction services

Introduction Increased use of crystal methamphetamine (“crystal meth”) has been observed across North America and international jurisdictions, including a notable increase in the presence of methamphetamines in illicit drug toxicity deaths in British Columbia (BC), Canada. We used data from a cross-sectional survey and urine toxicology screening to report the prevalence, correlates, and validity of self-reported crystal meth use among clients of harm reduction sites in BC. Materials and methods Survey data were collected from 1,107 participants across 25 communities in BC, through the 2018 and 2019 Harm Reduction Client Survey. We described reported substance use and used a multivariate logistic regression model to characterize crystal meth use. Urine samples provided by a subset of participants were used to derive validity of self-reported three-day crystal meth use compared to urine toxicology screening. Results Excluding tobacco, crystal meth was the most frequently reported substance used in the past three days in 2018 and 2019 (59.7% and 71.7%, respectively). Smoking was the dominant route of administration for crystal meth, crack, heroin, and fentanyl. Multivariate analysis determined significantly higher odds of crystal meth use among those who used opioids (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 3.13), cannabis (AOR = 2.10), and alcohol (1.41), and among those who were not regularly housed (AOR = 2.08) and unemployed (AOR = 1.75). Age ≥50 was inversely associated with crystal meth use (AOR = 0.63). Sensitivity of self-reported crystal meth use was 86%, specificity was 86%, positive predictive value was 96%, and negative predictive value was 65%. Conclusions Crystal meth was the most commonly used substance among clients of harm reduction sites in BC in 2018 and 2019, and was frequently used concurrently with opioids. Comparison to urine samples demonstrated high validity of self-reported crystal meth use. Understanding evolving patterns of substance use will be imperative in tailoring harm reduction and substance use services for individuals that use crystal meth.

Chemsex y uso de sustancias durante las relaciones sexuales: resultados de una encuesta realizada en Argentina

Introducción: Chemsex está relacionado con el uso de ciertas drogas que facilitan la excitación y el prolongar la duración de los encuentros sexuales. Objetivo: Describir el perfil de consumo de los usuarios de sustancias durante las relaciones sexuales (SRS) y su relación con variables demográficas, de estilo de vida y de salud. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y transversal realizado a través de una encuesta autoadministrada y anónima en el marco de la plataforma Google Forms® que se transmitió en diferentes redes sociales. Objetivo: describir los aspectos demográficos y de estilo de vida de los encuestados y del subgrupo de usuarios de SRS y chemsex. Resultados: Se recibieron 2924 encuestas; 421 personas (16,9%) refirieron haber consumido al menos una vez uno o más de los siguientes: mefedrona, metanfetamina, crystal meth, GHB/GBL, cocaína, LSD, poppers, ketamina y éxtasis. Chemsex se definió como el consumo de los tres primeros y su prevalencia fue del 1,1%. El perfil de usuario de SRS y chemsex en nuestro estudio fue un hombre de entre 26 y 35 años, HSH y habitante de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hubo mayor proporción de personas con VIH y diagnósticos de ITS en el último año dentro de los usuarios de SRS y chemsex. Conclusiones: Esta es la primera encuesta que trata este tema en nuestro país y en América Latina. Teniendo en cuenta la tendencia a un menor uso de los condones y a presentar más diagnósticos de ITS y VIH en la población de usuarios de SRS, consideramos de interés conocer la epidemiología en nuestra población.

Crystal Meth and HIV/AIDS:A Pilot Study of Behavioral and Clinical Correlates

Crystal methamphetamine is an extremely addictive stimulant that increases sexual arousal while reducing inhibition and judgment. Its use is associated with a range of high-risk sexual behaviors that increase the likelihood of acquiring or transmitting HIV. Given the relatively high prevalence of crystal methamphetamine use among people living with HIV and among men who have sex with men, there is great concern that this drug is fueling the HIV epidemic. Equally worrisome are the effects that crystal methamphetamine use can have on the prognosis and overall health of HIV-infected patients. This article reports the results of a pilot study that is part of a larger project exploring the correlates of antiretroviral therapy drug resistance.

SOCIALIZATION OF THE DANGER OF DRUGS TO IMPROVE COLLAGE STUDENT'S AWARENESS

Drugs are not a dangerous thing if they are used by the experts in medication, but in this case drugs such as crystal meth is consumed by colleagues or university students freely will impact their emotionally and physically. In result it will impact their future to become worse and worse. STMIK Dhamarpala Riau is a college located in central Pekanbaru city. It has freedom of interaction in all aspects, moreover the majority of students are workers. So they become a fresh bait by drug distributors. To prevent that happen and improve their awareness, this is important to give socialization about the danger of drugs in order to avoid bad things occur and they will not trapped in drugs situation. This program is also supported by the National Anti Narcotics Agency of Indonesia. The writer as anti narcotics activators socialize about the definition of drugs, how to recognize drug users, and how to make an anticipation of drug users at the level of family, friends and society. Key Words: Danger of drugs, university student

Hanging, blowing, slamming and playing: Erotic control and overflow in a digital chemsex scene

Based on participant observation, this article details the use of methamphetamine (crystal meth) in a social scene mediated by a video conferencing service similar to Zoom. Taking an affective-materialist approach and applying concepts from play theory, it describes the visual erotic culture that emerges in the 100 simultaneous videos of drug-using people, mostly men. It details the scene’s modulation of temporality, how drug use is performed in relationship to numerous screens and the way ceremonialization counters the platformed deintensification. Finally, it discusses how digital chemsex encounters might overflow categories of gender and sexuality, and how the article may enrich the study of drugged sexual play.

Hanging, blowing, slamming, and playing: Erotic control and overflow in a digital chemsex scene

Based on participant observation, this article details the use of methamphetamine (crystal meth) in a social scene mediated by a video conferencing service similar to Zoom. Taking an affective-materialist approach and applying concepts from play theory, it describes the visual erotic culture that emerges in the 100 simultaneous videos of drug-using people, mostly men. It details the scene’s modulation of temporality, how drug use is performed in relationship to numerous screens and the way ceremonializa- tion counters the platformed deintensification. Finally, it discusses how digital chemsex encounters might overflow categories of gender and sexuality, and how the article may enrich the study of drugged sexual play.

Public Library: Crystal Meth, Choreography, Conceptual Art

The public video project The Public Library includes the performance of writing field notes and of choreographed dance sequences — which together serve as an ethnographic prompt for discussions about city life in northwestern Canada. The growing presence of crystal methamphetamine in sidewalk life and in the lives of First Nations persons is part of the discussion.