Objective:

To assess the knowledge, training, and prevention resources related to chemsex among community pharmacy professionals in France, highlighting its significance in public health.

Key Findings:

• 80% of respondents had heard of chemsex, but only 67% could provide a definition, indicating a significant knowledge gap.
• Only 11% learned about chemsex through formal education, underscoring the need for improved training.
• Mean knowledge score was 13.8 out of 29, reflecting inadequate understanding.
• 69% could not manage potential chemsex-related drug interactions, which poses risks to patient safety.
• Only 6% could identify a clinically relevant interaction, highlighting a critical area for training.
• 88% rated available prevention information for patients as poor, indicating a lack of resources.
• 57% suggested professional training as a strategy for improvement, emphasizing the need for targeted educational initiatives.

Interpretation:

Community pharmacy staff exhibit significant knowledge gaps regarding chemsex, which could adversely impact their ability to provide effective counseling and support for at-risk patients.

Limitations:

• Cross-sectional design and self-reported data may introduce bias.
• Convenience and snowball sampling may not represent the broader pharmacy workforce, potentially underestimating knowledge gaps.
• The newly developed questionnaire lacked full psychometric validation, which may affect the reliability of the findings.
• Stigma surrounding chemsex may have influenced respondents' willingness to disclose their knowledge and experiences.

Conclusion:

There is a critical need for enhanced training and resources for community pharmacy staff to better address chemsex-related issues and improve patient care, emphasizing the urgency of these improvements.