Objective:

To assess the knowledge and preparedness of community pharmacists regarding chemsex (the use of drugs during sexual activity) and its associated drug interactions.

Key Findings:

• 86% of surveyed pharmacists had never received a chemsex-related question, indicating a lack of exposure to this issue.
• Only 67% could define chemsex, and 68% incorrectly identified core substances, suggesting a conflation of 'drugs during sex' with the specific harm profile chemsex describes.
• 69% felt unable to manage drug interactions related to chemsex, highlighting a significant knowledge gap.
• Only 18% recognized intravenous injection ('slamming') as part of chemsex, which is notable given that pharmacies dispense sterile injection kits.
• Professionals with prior chemsex inquiries reported lower perceived resource adequacy, suggesting that direct exposure may enhance awareness of support deficiencies.

Interpretation:

The findings indicate a significant knowledge gap among pharmacists regarding chemsex, suggesting that direct exposure may enhance awareness of existing support deficiencies and the need for targeted training.

Limitations:

• The study's findings are based on a single regional survey and may not be generalizable to all pharmacy settings due to regional differences.
• Potential reverse causality in perceived resource adequacy and prior inquiries may affect the interpretation of results.

Conclusion:

The study raises questions about the potential benefits of chemsex-specific training for pharmacists to better utilize existing harm reduction resources and improve their ability to manage drug interactions.