Do people who use Club Drugs have more Sexually Transmitted Infections
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Do people who use Club Drugs have higher risk sexual behaviour and higher rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections?
IRAS ID
137659
Contact name
Nadia Ekong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Research summary
There are increasing levels of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in the UK, particularly amongst young people [1]. A recent study from the US linked club drug use with ongoing HIV transmission in young people [2].
Information from London clinics show that certain groups of men who have sex with men (MSM) are beginning to inject drugs such as crystal meth and mephedrone, often during sex. We don’t know if this is happening anywhere else in the UK. We also don’t know whether there is a link between club drug use (GHB/GBL, mephedrone and ketamine) and STIs other than HIV, especially in people having sex with people of the opposite sex (heterosexual).
Our project aims to find out whether people attending the Centre for Sexual Health in Leeds are using club drugs. Questionnaires will be given to everyone, so both heterosexual and MSM communities will be included. We will then link the results of the questionnaire to their sexual behaviour and rate of sexually transmitted infections. This will show if people taking more club drugs are more likely to have riskier sexual behaviour and/or an STI.
The questionnaire will be given to everyone over 16 years old attending the Centre for Sexual Health over three months. It is completely voluntary. The form will have the participants “GUM number” on it. This is a completely confidential number which is not linked to hospital or GP records. The doctor or nurse seeing the patient will ensure that they are happy to take part in the study and document a verbal consent in the patients GUM case record and on the study questionnaire.
1. Health Protection Report HIV/STI 5th / 06/ 2013 Volume 7, No. 23 http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/infections/hiv_sti.htm
2. Zuckerman MD, Boyer EW. HIV and club drugs in emerging adulthood. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2012 Apr;24(2):219-24. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e32834faa9b.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0337
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion