Drugs, sex and disinhibition: what is ‘chemsex’ and what risks does it entail?

Yesterday was pure lag, although there is not even a shadow of a hangover. The plate with drugs is still on the table. During that night, inhibitions disappeared and sexual pleasure seemed limitless.

For many, this is the promise of chemsex. However, behind this claim of freedom and fun lies a reality of health risks, vulnerability and addiction.

He chemsex refers to the consumption of specific psychoactive substances to improve or prolong sexual experiences. It is mainly practiced by homosexuals, bisexuals and men who have sex with men.

The most commonly used substances are methamphetamines, mephedrone, ketamine or gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB, commonly known as “jet”). The objective is to reach ecstasy during relationships and prolong their duration, often administering the drugs by slam, with the risks that this entails.

Physical and psychological risks

The practice of chemsex can lead to the following negative consequences:

• Implications for physical health. It is linked to an increase in risky sexual behaviors, which can increase transmission rates of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Participants usually maintain relationships with multiple partners at the same time and, sometimes, for prolonged periods, which aggravates these possibilities of contagion.

• Deterioration of mental health: Often, people who practice it experience stigmatization, stress or even guilt or feelings of loneliness. On the other hand, the reasons that lead to signing up for chemsex should be evaluated.

1. Substance use and dependence: The use of psychoactive drugs can cause acute intoxication and long-term dependence problems, complicating both physical and mental health.

Users may experience physical and mental exhaustion, suicidal ideations, psychosis, aggressive behavior or overdose due to loss of control over substances (hence, for example, the colloquial expression “dumping”, when someone goes too far with GHB. ).

Read more: What is ‘slamsex’, the dangerous sexual practice that is all the rage on dating apps

And why don’t you ask for help?

Those who practice chemsex They do not usually feel sufficiently accompanied or understood. Thus we find what we can call barriers in health care:

• Stigma and discriminationboth due to drug consumption and sexual orientation or the practices carried out. The judgment and lack of cultural competence of the health professionals themselves cause this situation.

• Lack of knowledgeboth from consumers and health professionals. The former due to their lack of awareness about the effects that these substances and activities can have, and the latter due to not knowing the emergency situations derived from methamphetamine or GHB overdoses.

How can you act?

As citizens we are capable of helping and we can do a lot, but we have to take into account different factors:

• Coordinated interventions are required. There is a lack of joint public health interventions adapted to the specific needs of people who practice chemsex. Safe, competent and ethical care must be provided.

• We must educate and raise awareness. They should teach about sexual safety and drug use and participate in educational activities about the risks of chemsex and its importance on health.

• It is necessary to encourage community supportwith people who share information and provide support based on their experiences.

• The health policies They would have to address drug use as a health problem and not as a crime. Stigma must be minimized and empathy must be shown to provide support and accompany the people involved. And this includes all health professionals.

• They must be undertaken research to better understand these dynamics and ensure that interventions are effective. Among the objectives of the Agenda 2030 The prevention and treatment of the consumption of addictive substances and ending the STI epidemic by 2030 are found, especially in vulnerable groups such as men who have sexual relations with men, migrants or the LGBTQ+ community.

Ultimately, the chemsex represents a complex challenge that transcends the individual sphere to become an issue of public health, human rights and social justice. Addressing the risks of this practice requires not only health and legal interventions, but a change in the way we understand and support affected communities. Education, harm reduction and empathy are essential to moving towards real and sustainable solutions.