If you are a regular visitor to the LGBTIQ* community and gay dating portals, you will certainly have come across the term chemsex. What lies behind the term and what you should know about it, you will find out when you read this article.
What is Chemsex?
Everyone has certain preferences or fetishes that excite them sexually and make lovemaking more exciting. The use of drugs as part of sexual activity can also give a kick, prolong the sexual act and make the climax(es) more intense.
The term chemsex, coined by British activist David Stuart over twenty years ago, is when gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men use certain drugs during their sexual activities to experience increased intimacy and pleasure. It is known as PnP (Party and Play) in the USA and HnH (High and Horny) in the UK.
Why is it so popular?
The drugs used in chemsex make you feel less inhibited, more aroused and able to concentrate fully on sex. Some men use chems to avoid a perceived stigma or self-doubt that he suffers during sex. The drugs help him to cope with such problems. Or, at least for the duration of the effects of Chems to free himself from them altogether.
Other men believe that drugs improve sex, make them more euphoric and give them better orgasms. Sex under the influence of drugs can often last for several hours. However, it is also possible that the user does not reach orgasm during this time. Even though they are fully focused on experiencing the perfect orgasm.
When and where is it practised?
There are countless places and occasions for men to experience chemsex. Some men simply practice chemsex with their own partner. Others look for a partner who is also interested in chemsex, with whom they then have sex under the influence of drugs. Still others organise a so-called chemsex party at home. To which they invite many men, who then have sex with each other. If you don’t want to organise such a party yourself, you can certainly find people in the relevant gay dating portals who are looking for guests for a party with extra.
For those who don’t want to practice chemsex in their own four walls, they can also go to men’s saunas, gay cinemas or clubs to find partners. On the Internet, you can meet appropriate dates. Those who are looking for appropriate dates there often use the well-known terms HnH (High and Horny) or PnP (Party and Play) in their profile name. But also Chillout or a big T (for Tina, Crystal Meth) indicate that the person is interested in Chemsex.
Which drugs are most commonly used in chemsex?
There are various substances that cause the desired effect. The most commonly used drugs in chemsex are methamphetamine (Crystal/Crystal Meth/Tina/Meth), mephedrone (Meph/Drone/M-Cat/Miau-Miau) and GHB/GBL (G, Gina).
Possible consequences of chemsex – Risk of dependency
The effects of chemsex vary and depend mainly on the constitution and health of the person who practices it. Experience from the community shows that some men are less at risk, while others are at greater risk. Chemsex counselling projects point out protections as well as dangers
The use of drugs can affect physical and mental health, i.e. have negative effects on physical health. For example, on the heart or the brain. Possible consequences of chemsex can include anxiety, psychosis, depressive episodes or full-blown depression.
It is not uncommon for participants of a chemsex party to consume crystal meth and mephedrone intravenously, i.e. by injection. With such an injection, there is an increased risk of infections and blood-borne viruses such as HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B. This is especially true if the injection is given by a doctor. This is especially true if the injection needle is used several times by different men.
The drugs used for chemsex sometimes have a high addiction potential. So you can become dependent on them after just a few uses. If dependence develops, and you stop using drugs, unpleasant withdrawal symptoms can result.
A major problem arises when users perceive chemsex as something so positive and unique that at some point they are no longer able to enjoy sex without drugs.
When not to practice chemsex
Whoever suffers from certain pre-existing conditions such as heart problems or high blood pressure should not practise chemsex. As the intoxicants used can lead to serious problems. If you are dependent on certain medications, you must discuss with a doctor how they interact with Chems.
If you have mental health problems, you should be careful when practising chemsex. It could affect your mental health or exacerbate problems. Even if setting boundaries is difficult for you, you should be careful not to engage in chemsex. This is because it can lead to an intensification of the sexual experience. Which can lead to a loss of control in some people.
If there are already problems with drug dependence or abuse, it is advisable not to practise chemsex. It could exacerbate your addiction or make you addicted. If you are already under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, you should also refrain from chemsex. Consumption of both impairs judgement, can lead to risky behaviour, or can cause unexpected interactions. Also, if you have an increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (STIs), you should avoid chemsex or take appropriate protective measures.
Support for consumers is more important than condemnation
When the new trend of chemsex emerged in the LGBTIQ* community, the focus was initially on the dangers involved and the community discussed how to deal with this new (re-emerging) phenomenon. However, it soon became clear that open and above all unprejudiced prevention and counselling work was needed if consumers were to be reached.
In the meantime, there is now a new programme of prevention and counselling.
In the meantime, there are offers nationwide that advice, accompany and help people on the subject of chemsex. They can also answer questions about it. It does not matter to the counselling centres whether chemsex has already become a problem for the client and addiction plays a role, whether the client wants information about protection options or whether he or she simply wants to clarify open questions. Counselling is non-judgmental, anonymous and free of charge.
Unfortunately, gay/queer sexuality as well as substance use are already, without any connection to each other, topics that many perceive as problematic or shameful. When the two come together, the problem is magnified. The task of chemsex counselling is to openly address the needs, benefits, risks and consequences of chemsex. To discuss them with the client and to offer them an unprejudiced environment. This enables a consumer to clarify their approach to chemsex for themselves.
Strengthening personal responsibility in chemsex
Experiences from practice show that the disinhibition caused by chemsex often leads to consumers foregoing the use of condoms in the heat of the moment or using an already used needle when injecting chemsex. Sharing a sniff tube is also not safe. All the practices listed increase the risk of HIV infection or infection with other STIs.
For this reason, it is important to appeal to the consumers’ personal responsibility and to inform them comprehensively about the dangers. Again and again, the use of chemicals leads to an overdose, which in the worst case can cause a coma from which one cannot wake up again or can lead directly to death. Therefore, anyone who comes into contact with chemsex and practices chemsex should set clear rules for themselves. This also applies to those who organise parties. At the very least, they should provide enough condoms and make sure that there are enough disposable syringes and needles.
In the end, however, everyone is responsible for themselves and their actions. They can and must decide for themselves what they want to do during chemsex, what their limits are and how important their own and their sex partner(s)’ health is to them. If the protective measures mentioned above are observed and the dose is chosen wisely, chemsex is possible and at the same time the risk can at least be limited.