The Dangers of Chemsex

September 22nd, 2020

So
first, what exactly is “chemsex”? Sometimes called PnP (“party and play”) or
H&H (“high and horny”), chemsex is the use of drugs to enhance sexual
experiences.

One
major misconception that one may have about chemsex is the substances involved.
Those that know about chemsex from the media may think that it only revolves
around alcohol and common party drugs. However, the fact is that the three most
popular drugs used are:

• Crystal meth
• Mephedrone
• Gammahydroxybutyrate/gammabutyrolactone
  (also known as GHB/GBL, G or Gina)

While the three drugs above are the most
frequently used, typically alcohol is also brought into the mix. Further, these
drugs are used for the direct purpose of gay sex. But what exactly do the
mentioned drugs accomplish?

Crystal meth is a stimulant and is
usually taken by snorting, smoking, injecting, or swallowing it. It makes
people feel alert and aroused but can also lead to feelings of paranoia and
agitation. Additionally, meth can raise your heart rate and blood pressure,
leading to heart problems. It’s also worth mentioning that meth is highly
addictive, and overdosing can spell death.

Mephedrone is a stimulant as well and is
taken in the same ways as crystal meth. It makes people feel aroused, alert,
euphoric, and confident, as well as sick, paranoid, and anxious. Similarly,
mephedrone is highly addictive and can cause hallucinations, reduced appetite,
insomnia, sweating, and dizziness.

GHB/GBL are sedatives and usually an oily
substance that people mix with a drink and swallow. These drugs make people
feel sleepy, euphoric, and less inhibited. With these drugs, it is particularly
difficult to gauge how much you’re actually taking, so it’s pretty easy to
overdose, which will result in passing out, possibly fatally.

As one can assume, taking hard drugs and
engaging in sexual activities bear many risks, with the biggest risk being
increasing your chance of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted
infections (STIs).

For starters, being on this hard mix of
drugs will greatly lower your reasoning and inhibitions, meaning you may not be
using condoms while having sex. You may also not remember what all drugs you’ve
done or if you used condoms. Additionally, you could forget to take your pre-exposure prophylaxis
medication (PrEP), making you considerably more vulnerable to HIV if you’re not
using condoms.

If you currently live with HIV, you may
forget to take your HIV medication that keeps you undetectable and prevents you
from passing it on. Another risk to consider is that you may be having sex with
strangers, potentially multiple ones, which increases your chances of exposure
to HIV and other STIs.

While under the pleasing effects of these
drugs, you may also partake in more forceful sex that can result in anal
tearing if said sex is unlubricated. As a result, your risk of HIV infection
and hepatitis C is increased.

As mentioned previously, it isn’t simple
to gauge the amount of GHB/GBL you’re taking and could lead to overdose.
Overdosing would lead to unconsciousness, which could leave you open for sexual
assault.

A final risk worth mentioning is the act
of “slamming,” where people inject mephedrone or crystal meth using shared
needles. This is yet another action that can result in developing HIV or
hepatitis C.

With these risks in mind, it is equally,
if not more, important to note the ways you can reduce the chances of such dire
consequences if you plan on moving forward with trying chemsex or if it is a
habitual activity for you.

The first and foremost thing you can do
to substantially lower your risks if you engage in chemsex is to bring varying
forms of protection. This is including but not limited to condoms, plenty of
lube, and PrEP. This triple combination is key to reducing the contraction of STIs
and HIV, as well as any potential sexual injuries.

Following protection, you’ll need to
heighten your degree of sexual self-awareness in various areas. For starters,
you should always know your HIV status from regular check-ups (this also
translates to STI testing). Next, you’ll need to plan your night accordingly:
make sure you party with people you can trust, set your limits before taking
any drugs, and set reminders about bringing said protection. Further, be clear
in what you are and aren’t comfortable with doing by establishing some ground
rules beforehand.

The last element of self-awareness to
keep in mind will be during the actual event. Keep tabs on what drugs you have
had, don’t share any needles/syringes, and don’t allow someone else to inject
you with anything. Additionally, don’t be out too long or too frequently, as
the longer you party, the more likely you may hallucinate or feel yourself
start a dependence on chemsex drugs.

A final point of importance concerning
chemsex is the support available. If you’ve recently had chemsex and are
worried about your HIV status, immediately visit an emergency department or
talk to a sexual health professional. From there, you’ll likely be given emergency post-exposure prophylaxis
treatment to prevent HIV transmission, assuming
you’ve sought out help within 72 hours of the chemsex activities. You can also
seek help and instruction from your healthcare provider if you’re worried about
potential addiction or your well-being on a mental or physical level. Getting
in touch with specialists for drug and alcohol counseling could also be a
worthwhile source to look out for.