Chemsex is mostly associated with men who have sex with men, usually group sex, but is becoming more common in the wider LGBT+ community and people having heterosexual (straight) sex.

The use of drugs in chemsex sessions can help sex last from several hours to several days. It aims to maintain libido and stamina, lower inhibitions, facilitate certain sex acts (like fisting), and intensify sexual sensations.

The three main drugs that are associated with chemsex are GHB/GBL, mephedrone and methamphetamine. Below is more information about these drugs.

GHB & GBL, also known as G or Gina, are ‘downer’ drugs that can create feelings of euphoria and has a sedative effect, similar to being drunk. This drug is legally used in industrial solvents and paint strippers.

GHB, or gamma-butyrolactone, is a clear, salty liquid with no smell, but sometimes comes as a white powder. GHB is converted to GBL in the body, meaning that the effects can be stronger and more unpredictable than pure GBL.

GBL, or gamma-hydroxybutyrate, is more common and is also a clear liquid but has a strong chemical scent and taste.

The effects include feeling relaxed, horny or a bit high. However, overdosing on it can result in dizziness, vomiting, and in severe scenarios, unconsciousness, seizures, comas and death.

GBL and GHB are taken by mixing the drug with non-alcoholic beverages in extremely small quantities (0.5ml – 1.5 ml). Due to the small difference between a dose to get high versus overdosing, it is easy to take make a mistake and overdose.

It’s important that to stay careful if you take G, with doses needing to be precise, timed and never mixed with alcohol. If you do encounter a situation where someone has gone unconscious from taking G (called ‘going under’), it is important to put that person in the recovery position and contact medical services to prevent sudden death.

For more information, please visit https://www.fridaymonday.org.uk/drug-types/gbl-and-ghb/.

Mephedrone, also called meph, drone, m-cat, meow meow or bath salts, is a stimulant drug that works similarly to amphetamines and is usually cut with other substances, so the quality of it can vary a lot.

Mephedrone is sold as a white/cream/yellow powder that is made by crushing small crystals. It can be taken in a number of ways, including being snorted, dissolved or ‘bombed’ (wrapped in paper) with water, injected (slammed) and booty bumped (injected into someone’s arse).

The drug works to increase feelings of alertness, euphoria, horniness, empathy and lower inhibitions. In chemsex parties, mixing mephedrone with other drugs like Viagra and GHB increases alertness and maintains erections. However, this also reduces your inhibitions, so you may make decisions under the influence that you wouldn’t make when sober.

Due to the short-term effects of mephedrone, it’s easy to increase the dosage until you become dependent on the drug. As the drug is an ‘upper’, it can cause a risk of heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats, fits, lower mood, sleep issues and restlessness.

Additionally, if you choose to slam and make a mistake whilst injecting, you may develop ulcers or gangrene by damaging your veins. Injecting mephedrone can also lead to injecting other substances, and increase the chances of developing infections like hep-C and HIV.

For more information on mephedrone and things you can do to be safer, check https://www.fridaymonday.org.uk/drug-types/mephedrone/ .

Methamphetamine is more commonly known as crystal, meth, crystal meth, T or Tina, and is a very strong stimulant. It usually is sold as white/colourless crystals which can be made into a powder, or it can come as a pill. Like mephedrone, methamphetamine can be ‘slammed’, snorted or smoked in a pipe.

Methamphetamine in chemsex helps release stress hormones in the brain, as well as chemicals like dopamine and serotonin that create positive feelings. This includes feeling energetic, confident, impulsive, horny, lowered inhibitions and less sensitive to pain. It can also suppress people’s hunger and keep you ‘wide awake’ for several days.

The drug increases your blood pressure, heartbeat and body temperature, which at dangerous levels, can cause heart attacks, coma or even death. As with other injecting methods, there is also a risk of injecting methamphetamine incorrectly and causing your body damage or transmitting STIs and HIV. It is also very important to check whatever you take alongside meth is safe, as it can have negative effects if you use other stimulants like poppers, Viagra and even anti-depressants.

As the tolerance for crystal meth users can develop quickly, it is also easy to form an addiction to the drug. Long-term use of the drug can negatively impact people’s social lives, including relationships, jobs and homes.

Please visit https://www.fridaymonday.org.uk/drug-types/crystal-meth/ to find out more information on how to play safely or quit using methamphetamines.

For advice on to reduce harm if you do engage in chemsex, please see the points below:

• Use condoms, lube or other barrier protective methods like dental dams to lessen the likelihood of transmitting HIV and STIs
• If you can access PrEP this will prevent the spread of HIV even with someone who is living with HIV.
• If you believe you have been exposed to HIV, you can access PEP (link?) up to 72 hours after exposure to fight off HIV.
• Regularly testing can also help reduce the likelihood of passing STIs and HIV to partners.
• If engaging in chemsex, especially when using GHB or GBL, time out your doses using a phone or writing it down the next time to dose safely.
• Measure your doses accurately, or even pre-measure to save on trying to do this whilst under the influence.
• Try not to share needles or snorting equipment with others, and always thoroughly clean and dispose of equipment after use.
• Always wash your hands before and after slamming.
• Setting ground rules with yourself and others whilst sober can help avoid issues of consent.
• Avoid mixing drugs with other drugs and with alcohol.
• Surround yourself with people you can trust and rely on.
• Stay hydrated with water and take small amounts of easy-to-eat, healthy food.
• Being in control of your own drugs, dosing, condoms and lube is important to avoid transmission or risks of other people taking advantage.
• Always use a new condom when playing with a new partner or using a different hole.

For further and more detailed advice on how to reduce harm when engaging in chemsex, please visit: https://www.controllingchemsex.com/tips-and-information/information/harm-reduction.

The legality of chemsex and drugs can be confusing and scary for people using substances recreationally, and this can mean people might be afraid to seek medical help if something goes wrong at a party.

If someone needs medical support from an ambulance or at A&E due to unconsciousness, it is important you contact the emergency services to prevent accidental deaths. Always be honest with the information you supply to paramedics so they can properly support someone. Tell them what was taken, how much and when (if you know).

Due to the nature of chemsex, not every paramedic or health professional is familiar with how to treat someone if they have overdosed on GHB or GBL. If you can, carry a copy of page 31 in this guide which that helps give information to health practitioners:

Police are only likely to join a paramedic if there is reason to believe a crime has been committed, forced entry is needed or someone is a danger to themselves or others. However, it is not illegal to tell the police you have used drugs, and you can’t be arrested for doing drugs and having sex. If you are found possessing and supplying drugs, this can lead to an arrest.

It is always best to be honest about the situation if you are found to be supplying or possessing drugs, as this can at least make you seem more reliable to authorities and will help if this leads to a court case.

The ControllingChemsex website has more details about the law, medical services and chemsex, which can be found at the following link https://www.controllingchemsex.com/tips-and-information/information/police-legal-implications.

https://www.controllingchemsex.com/tips-and-information/information/police-legal-implications

https://www.fridaymonday.org.uk/drug-types/gbl-and-ghb/