Twelve themes related to HIV risk emerged, including low HIV and STD knowledge particularly among Latino MSM and MSM who use the Internet for sexual networking stereotyping of African American MSM as sexually “dominant” and Latino MSM as less likely to be HIV infected and the eroticization of “barebacking.” Twelve intervention approaches also were identified, including developing culturally congruent programming using community-identified assets harnessing social media used by informal networks of MSM and promoting protection within the context of intimate relationships. Participants self-identified as African American/Black (n=28), Hispanic/Latino (n=33), white (n=21), and bi-racial/ethnic (n=6).
An academic-community partnership conducted nine focus groups with 88 MSM. This study was designed to explore sexual risk among MSM using community-based participatory research (CBPR). “Men who currently use poppers for more adventurous sexual encounters might consider illicit drugs for the same purposes – with greater risks of overdose and dependence,” he said.Men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
Reeders expressed hope that the consultation “signals the TGA are considering alternatives to prohibition that acknowledge queer and partygoer communities are capable of responsibly managing health risks”.Ĭornelisse said the ban “could make patients think twice about telling their doctor about their poppers use”, undermining the “trust and full disclosure” needed for an effective relationship. The submission also notes that former AFP commissioner Mick Palmer warned in September that the proposed ban on alkyl nitrites was unlikely to be effective. The pair will warn that banning alkyl nitrites might lead to poppers users turning to more dangerous substances, such as “huffing” ethyl chloride or illicit drugs such as crystal methamphetamine. In a statement Cornelisse and Readers said they will argue that the TGA could prevent risks of vision loss with “a more limited ban on isopropyl nitrite alone”. The submission noted that an increase in “adverse events” – including ophthalmological damage – in recent years came after the European Union banned isobutyl nitrite in 2007, suggesting that substitution of isopropyl nitrite may to be blame for vision loss in some users. The submission presented evidence that poppers are widely used and adverse events associated with use are relatively uncommon – making criminalisation disproportionate to the risk.
The LGBT health advocates also called on the TGA to consider the mental health impact of a decision to “criminalise the practice of an estimated 90,000 adult gay and bisexual men, as well as an undetermined number of queer women, non-binary people, and heterosexual men and women who currently use nitrite inhalants”. Instead, this was a “legitimate, beneficial and therapeutic use” of poppers, which help prevent spasms and tearing during anal sex. “Use as sex aids due to their muscle relaxant properties should not be considered misuse and abuse of these substances,” they argued. The authors also submitted the interim decision was contradictory because it claimed poppers had “little or no therapeutic benefit” despite conceding they are used for their “euphoric … analgesic and muscle relaxant effects”.
Reeders, Cornelisse and their co-authors accused the TGA delegate of “listing the benefits of use as risks of use”, which they argued “perhaps a prejudgment of the scheduling decision”. The TGA has claimed that there is a “high potential for misuse and abuse of alkyl nitrites for euphoric properties, and as sex aids due to their muscle relaxant properties” in “particular sections of the community”. The proposal would list alkyl nitrites in schedule 9, along with the most serious drugs and effectively criminalise possession and use. Poppers dilate the user’s blood vessels, helping receptive sexual partners comfortably enjoy anal sex.