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What is chemsex and what are the risks?
Put simply, ‘chemsex’ means engaging in sexual activities while under the influence of drugs. The reality though is much more nuanced, with varying degrees of drug taking and sexual activity in different circumstances. People who start their journey into chemsex might feel that it’s fun and exciting, but it doesn’t always stay that way. Chemsex can descend into more risky behaviours. To understand how chemsex can progress, you can read about Anthony’s experience over 20 years here.
Lowered inhibitions, varying states of consciousness and cultural and/or peer pressure can leave people vulnerable to physical and/or sexual abuse during chemsex, as well as the risk of trauma from what they see or experience.
The drugs typically taken during chemsex - mephodrone, GHB (often referred to as ‘G’) or crystal meth - can lead to black outs, and are sometimes mixed with each other, or with other drugs, adding to the risks. Overdose, mental health problems, including psychosis, and health problems arising from drug taking or unprotected sex are very real risks. You might be able to reduce these risks by following the advice in this blog, but there is no way to eliminate the risks of chemsex.
What is a chemsex ‘crisis’?
In the short term, chemsex crises can include:
- Sexual assault
- Rape
- Overdose
- Physical assault
- Physical injury
- Trauma
Over a longer term, chemsex crises may include:
- Social isolation from family and friends
- Loss of employment
- Physical health deterioration
- Sexual health deterioration
- Mental health deterioration, including psychosis
Any of these situations can be difficult to manage in both the short and long term. It’s important to know that there are people and programmes that can help you. Here is some information that is good to know.
Am I having a chemsex crisis?
You might be experiencing some confusion around the circumstances you’re in, or have been in. You might question whether you’re having a crisis, or if what you are experiencing is normal. It might help to ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I feel like something is wrong?
- Do I feel like I’ve lost control?
- Do I feel like something someone did is wrong?
If the answers are yes to any of these questions, there’s a good chance you are experiencing a crisis.
Whether you’re ready to seek help or not, remember:
1. It’s ok to feel whatever you are feeling
You might feel confused, lost, scared, low, depressed, anxious or a combination of any of these. All of these feelings are normal, and everyone’s experience is different. It can be difficult to navigate these feelings, or to understand them. Sometimes a crisis may not feel like a crisis at the time, until you reflect on it, days, weeks or even years later. That’s ok too. There is no right or wrong way to experience a crisis.
2. It helps to lean on others
In the short or long term, counselling, peer support and talking to friends or family may help you to come to terms with how you feel, build resilience and start to form a more positive outlook again.
When you’re going through a crisis, it’s common to feel like you don’t want to burden friends or family. You might feel embarrassed, afraid or their reaction, or not know what to say. It might help to put yourself in their shoes and consider how you would react if they were asking you to help. Would you feel like they were a burden? Or would you be grateful that person felt they could lean on you?
Still, for multiple reasons, it may feel like you can’t turn to family or friends to support you through this crisis. There are experienced professionals and people who have been in similar situations that you can turn to. Turning Point offer a range of support around the issues faced during substance use and have teamed up with London Friend to provide specific support to the LGBTQ+ community around chemsex.
Help if you’ve experienced sexual or physical assault
There are specific issues that relate to assault, in these cases here is some advice for what you can do to make yourself safer, and to help you manage the situation in the longer term:
1. Get to safety as quickly as you can
It’s essential to prioritise your safety. You may feel dazed if still under the influence of drugs, confused or physically inhibited, but if you can, and as soon as you can, remove yourself from danger.
2. Gather as many facts as possible
During chemsex it might be challenging to know if a physical or sexual assault has taken place, especially if you have passed out at any point. As you leave, try to gather as much information as possible:
- Look around you - is there any evidence of sexual activity that you didn’t consent to, such as used condoms?
- When you get to safety, check your body - is there any evidence of sexual activity or physical violence?
- Ask people around you - there may be witnesses that can tell you some details around what happened. You can ask open questions, such as ‘What just happened?’ or more direct questions such as ‘Did someone have sex with me?’
As soon as you can, write everything down while your memory is as fresh as possible.
3. Get help
It’s important that you’re not alone. You may be feeling very confused, overwhelmed, and may still be under the influence of drugs. Get in touch with someone you trust or a support organisation to give you emotional support and help you with your next steps. Go to the nearest hospital or medical facility, even if you don't feel any immediate physical harm. Drugs used during chemsex can mask pain or other symptoms of injury. You could have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or other health issues. Some hospitals and clinics have specialised staff who can assist victims of sexual assault.
4. Preserve evidence
It may be tempting to shower, or cleanse right away, but doing so could destroy essential evidence. Although you may be uncomfortable, it’s important to avoid washing your body, brushing your hair or teeth, cleaning the clothes that you are wearing or the location that the assault took place.
5. Understand the terminology
You may be confused about whether what happened was rape or sexual assault. Rape, according to UK law, is when: “A person (A) commits an offence if—. (a) he intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis, (b) B does not consent to the penetration, and. (c) A does not reasonably believe that B consents”
Sexual assault, according to UK law, is defined as: “causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.” and it includes rape within this broader definition.
This includes A making B touch them, or A making B touch themselves or someone else. You don’t need to know these terms to make a report to the police, but it can help to improve your own understanding of your experience.
6. Know that physical and sexual assault are serious crimes
It is not an over reaction to accuse someone of assault when it has occurred. You are completely in your rights to report a physical or sexual assault to the police and you should expect the police to take your report seriously.
Once you’ve reported a crime, if you think you are in danger, the police are able to enforce a restraining order, a stalking protection order or a sexual risk order to ensure they can’t come near you while the investigation is under way.
7. Know that it’s not your fault
It’s very common for those who have been violated to feel guilt, to assume they did something ‘wrong’ or caused the offence to happen by something they did/said/didn’t do/wore. No matter what the circumstances, it is never your fault if you are assaulted or raped. It might be hard to believe that someone has done this to you, especially if you know them. Or you might be afraid of what other people might think if they find out. But it is never the fault of the victim and it is not ok that they did this to you.
How to help if someone is experiencing an overdose
Your chances of witnessing someone have an overdose is heightened in the chemsex scene. It might seem scary, but there is a lot that you can do to help give that person the best chance of recovery. Here is what you can do:
1. Call Emergency Services immediately
Dial 999 and provide as much information as possible, including your location, the substances involved, and the person's condition. Stay on the line until help arrives and follow the operator's instructions
2. Be aware of the signs of overdose
The signs of overdose will differ based on the substance/s taken. Here is what to look out for:
- Opioids (e.g., heroin, fentanyl): Slow, shallow, or no breathing; pinpoint pupils; bluish lips or nails; unconsciousness.
- Stimulants (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine): Rapid heart rate, chest pain, agitation, seizures, overheating, or unconsciousness.
- Depressants (e.g., alcohol, benzodiazepines, GHB): Slow breathing, unresponsiveness, vomiting while unconscious, or deep snoring sounds.
3. Perform CPR if necessary
You might need to perform CPR. If the person is not breathing or has no pulse, begin CPR. You may be concerned about exposure, especially if the person has vomited or if you’re concerned they might. While it’s ideal to provide rescue breaths, and a person requires at least one rescue breath every 10 minutes, your safety is also important. The most important thing is to provide chest compressions. Do this at a rate of 100-120 per minute until help arrives.
4. Place in the recovery position
If the person is unconscious but still breathing, place them in the recovery position (on their side with one leg bent and their head tilted back) to prevent choking on vomit, and monitor their breathing.
5. Keep the person warm and safe
Protect them from injury by moving away anything that could cause harm, such as sharp objects and cover them with a blanket if they feel cold.
6. Stay calm and provide reassurance
Don’t leave the person alone until help arrives. Stay calm, and if the person regains consciousness, reassure them and try to keep them calm as well.
Help for a long-term chemsex crisis
Over time, chemsex can take a serious physical and emotional toll. Everyone experiences chemsex differently, but some of the long-term effects can include sexual health issues, breathing and heart issues associated with drug use, seizures, cognitive impairment and mental health decline. You may find that your social ties are strained, leading to isolation from friends and family. You may find that your working life suffers and you could struggle to hold down a job due to the demands of the chemsex lifestyle, especially if you’re experiencing drug dependency.
There are many more potential effects that could lead you to feeling lost, sad or even hopeless. But there is help, and you don’t have to go through this alone. People can come through crises to live happy, fulfilling lives. We know, because we see it every day.
Help if you have suffered trauma
Whether you’ve experienced a sexual assault, physical assault, or witnessed things that have shocked you, trauma is a very real experience that can affect you at any point. It can manifest in many ways. If you feel that you may have experienced trauma as a result of your involvement on the chemsex scene, even if you feel that you may have done things that you are ashamed of or regret, there is support available.
Turning Point and London Friend’s Antidote service is a confidential support service for the LGBTQ+ community, supporting with issues relating to substance use and chemsex. Find out more about Antidote here.