What is it and what is its impact?
Chemsex, also known as Party and Play (or PNP), is a commonly used term to describe drug use immediately before or during sex – particularly among guys who have sex with other guys (specifically certain types of drugs such as GHB, Crystal Meth, and Mephedrone).
People engage in chemsex for a variety of reasons. For some, drugs might increase their sex drive or allow them to have sex for longer. For others, drugs might remove their inhibitions or increase feelings of intimacy.
Many people who mix sex and drugs are able to do so in a safe way, adopting harm reduction behaviours to keep them and their partners healthy. Many of these individuals are content with their drug use and how it impacts their sex life and don’t see a need to change anything.
However, for others, their chemsex experience can be less positive. For example, some regions which have seen a rise in chemsex amongst guys who have sex with guys have reported significant increases in community overdoses, drug dependency, and sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBIs). Some of the potential negative impacts associated with chemsex include:
Reduced libido and increased dependence on substances to have sex
Dependency on drugs to access feelings of intimacy and connection with others during sex
Drug addiction
Drug overdose
Increased risk of transmission of HIV, Hepatitis C, and others
Increased risk for sexual/physical assault
Mental health effects including: psychosis, depression, feelings of emptiness, low self-esteem, and anxiety
Physical health impacts associated with significant substance use including: thinness, acne, dental issues, etc.
Accessing Supports & Services
Despite these significant health challenges, many individuals who seek help for chemsex-related issues often encounter multiple barriers to accessing effective supports. There are many reasons for this but we will briefly explore two:
Firstly, chemsex exists at the intersection of mental health & addictions and sexual health. Often, services aren’t offered in an integrated way, with many focusing solely on sexual health or solely on substance use. This can lead to individuals being sent back-and-forth between two different parts of the system, with providers working in sexual health seeing chemsex-related challenges as being a mental health and addictions issue, and providers working in mental health and addictions seeing it as a sexual health issue. This can make it challenging for individuals to access comprehensive care which adequately addresses the range of factors involved in chemsex, including mental health, substance use, and sexual health.
Another reason why individuals may experience barriers in accessing effective care for chemsex is that many traditional harm reduction or sexual health services have a limited understanding of, and therefore a limited ability to respond to, the unique social and cultural factors which act as drivers for chemsex amongst guys who have sex with guys. Some of these drivers include:
Cultural and religious attitudes towards homosexuality
Trauma and stigma associated with the AIDS epidemic
Technology and the emergence of “hook-up” apps as a means of engaging in sex
Gay specific rejection culture associated with categorization by race, tribes, and appearance that affect one’s ability to “market” themselves
The Peer N Peer Program Can Help
Recognizing these access challenges, the QTHC’s Peer N Peer program launched as a program by and for sexual and gender minority guys who use (or used to use) substances. The Peer N Peer team has first-hand knowledge of the unique drivers associated with chemsex and are equipped to support you in reaching your substance use and sexual health goals. Whether you want to stop mixing sex and substances altogether, mix sex and substances together in a safer way, or just want to talk to someone who understands your experience and won’t judge you, the Peer N Peer team is here for you.
Services the Peer N Peer team offers which can help you reach your chemsex goals include:
One-on-one counselling and support
An online substance use and sexual health self-screening questionnaire on MyBuzz.ca (in case you’d prefer to start on your own before speaking with a team member)
Access to clean substance use supplies
Education on how to use substances more safely
All of these services can be accessed free-of-charge by contacting our Peer N Peer team at connect@peernpeer.ca or by phone (call or text) at 587-599-7290.
Useful Links
“Safer Chems,” The Gay Men’s Health Project: https://www.gmfa.org.uk/Pages/Category/safer-chems
“Chem Sex Care Plan,” David Stuart: https://www.davidstuart.org/care-plan
References
Giorgetti, Raffaele, et al. “When ‘Chems’ Meet Sex: A Rising Phenomenon Called ‘ChemSex.’” Current Neuropharmacology, Bentham Science Publishers, 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5771052/.
Macfarlane, Alastair. “Sex, Drugs and Self-Control: Why Chemsex Is Fast Becoming a Public Health Concern.” BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health, British Medical Journal Publishing Group, 2016, srh.bmj.com/content/42/4/291.
Milhet, Maitena. “Chemsex Experiences: Narratives of Pleasure.” Drugs and Alcohol Today, Emerald Publishing Group, 2019, www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/DAT-09-2018-0043.
Morris, Stephen. “Yes, Has No Meaning If You Can't Say No: Consent and Crime in the Chemsex Context.” Drugs and Alcohol Today, 2019, www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/DAT-10-2018-0054.
Platteau, Tom. “The Problematic Chemsex Journey: a Resource for Prevention and Harm Reduction.” Drugs and Alcohol Today, Emerald Publishing Group, 2019, www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/DAT-11-2018-0066.
Stuart, David. “Chemsex: Origins of the Word, a History of the Phenomenon and a Respect to the Culture.” Drugs and Alcohol Today, Emerald Group Publishing, 2019, www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/DAT-10-2018-0058.