“New” drugs associated with chemsex? 2C-B in sexual context. A case report and review
J. Curto Ramos, H. Dolengevich, M.a. Morillas Romerosa, E. Mateos Pascual
European Psychiatry November 17, 2023 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.1539 via DOAJ
Summary
A case report describes a man who experienced acute intoxication from 2C-B during chemsex, leading to psychotic symptoms and a diagnosis of stimulant acute intoxication. The use of 2C-B is noted for its stimulating and hallucinogenic effects, affecting dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine levels. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are identified as particularly vulnerable to drug misuse in sexual contexts, with various mental health issues linked to chemsex practices.
Study at a glance
| Design | case report and narrative review |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | a patient involved in chemsex practices |
| Key finding | The patient experienced acute psychotic symptoms due to polysubstance use including 2C-B during chemsex. |
Abstract
Introduction The intentional use of drugs before or during sexual intercourse (chemsex), due to its impact on mental health, is a phenomenon of high importance in men who have sex with men. Objectives We report the case of a patient with polysubstance acute intoxication, including 2C-B, in order to review the evidence about the mechanisms of action of 2C-B, its efects on sexual pleasure, toxicity, patterns of abuse and somatic and mental health related consequences it may present. Methods Case report and narrative review. Results We present the case of a patient using 2C-B as a substance in chemsex practice. As the patient presented in our emergency with psychotic symptoms, he was diagnosed with “stimulant acute intoxication” and “acute psychotic symptoms induced by stimulants”. 2C-B increases dopamine (DA) serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) and cause stimulating and hallucinogenic effects. Conclusions MSM is a group vulnerable to the problematic use of drugs in a sexual context. Several mental health problems have been associated with chemsex users such as psychotic sypmptoms, suicidal ideation, encephalopaty, delirium. Polysubstance use is common in chemsex practice and it can be difficult to identify the drugs used in states of acute intoxication but psychiatrists must explore the use of differents drugs from the “classic chemsex drugs” (mephedrone, GHB and metanphetamine) including 2C-B and other substances such as cocaine, MDMA, ketamine, and other cathinones different from mephedrone.