Also known as Party n Play, parTy, Wired Play and. Chems
If you look at its name, chemsex is relatively self-explanatory – it is when “chems” (chemical substances i.e. drugs) meet sex, and they come together with the aim of intensifying sexual experiences in social or party settings. Chemsex parties (known as chillouts) have many purposes as they provide situations where sexual activities can go on for extended periods of time and opportunities for people to have experiences with multiple partners. There are no specific substances that you need to use for something to classify as chemsex, however, there are substances more commonly associated with it than others:
For more information on these or any other drugs, please click here.
There is no barrier as to who can participate in chemsex as its primary purpose is to enhance sexual pleasure with drugs. However, there are individuals more commonly associated with chemsex practices and they are gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and this is for a multitude of reasons which are explained below.
There are many reasons why people choose to engage in chemsex so let’s focus on the different factors that influence why men who have sex with men (MSM) participate.
To lower inhibitions due to:
These listed factors can inhibit the ability of MSM to enjoy gay sex without the influence of substances due to the negative beliefs and stigma they promote. For example, parts of wider society still view gay sex with disgust and disdain, and inside the queer community there remains stigma around people living with HIV.
Psychosexual difficulties:
These factors influence someone’s ability to participate in sexual experiences even when it is something they want to do and are excited for. Therefore, by taking substances, the negative impact of these factors on participation and enjoyment reduces due to them lowering inhibitions and increasing sexual arousal.
Queer Culture
In some places of pleasure and subculture, urban gay identity has been built upon recreational drug use making it a significant component in queer culture and history. Therefore, engaging in chemsex can contribute to a person’s queer identity and sense of belonging.
Geo-spatial apps
In 2009, online dating for queer people and MSM was revolutionised with the launch of Grindr which introduced the use of GPS location to display nearby profiles. Since then, these apps have become common place to advertise someone’s willingness and desire to participate in chemsex using specific emojis and acronyms on profiles.
Negative sexual health outcomes:
Negative mental health outcomes:
Negative physical health outcomes:
Sex and relationships:
Sexual Safety:
Drug Safety:
Here are some tips that can help you to make positive changes if you want to reduce or stop participating in chemsex.
You can access a ‘Chemsex Care Plan’ and other useful resources and information here.
You can access professional support for chemsex, including 1:1 and family support by emailing support@controllingchemsex.com