Chemsex & Covid-19 with Chris O'Hanlon, Dr Mark Pakianathan and Richard Lisle

Positively UK Podcast

In our second episode we talk about the lockdown effect on people using Chems. Our host Chris O'Hanlon poses questions raised by our service participants to HIV Consultant Dr Mark Pakianathan and Richard Lisle, Lead for the 'Change Grow Live' Fast Tack Cities HIV/Drugs project.

We hope this episode will improve your understanding on interactions between HIV treatment and recreational drugs, and the physiological and psychological effects associated with Chemsex.

As the topic in this episode may bring up difficult feelings and emotions, we have included a list of support resources alongside a full transcript of the episode on the podcast webpage.

Dr Mark Pakianathan is Consultant Physician in Sexual Health & HIV at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London where he leads on gender and sexual minority sexual healthcare. He has had a career spanning 3 decades of experience of managing HIV from the pre-treatment to existing era.

Richard Lisle has worked in Drug and Alcohol treatment in Greater London and the criminal justice system with different organisations for over 18 years. Over the course of his career, he has worked as a group facilitator, drug worker, manager as well as implementing Chemsex support within services and raising awareness around HIV.