Chemsex: the ‘perfect storm’ of risks and stigma Popular among a select percentage of the gay male population, chemsex parties can see a dozen or more participants smoke drugs or inject themselves with illegal drugs before partying hard, including intense sexual activity, often with multiple partners, often without condom protection.
A significant number of chemsex participants are HIV-positive men while hepatitis C (HCV) is an ever-present danger. The illicit drugs being used are led by crystal methamphetamine – most commonly called ‘ice’ but also known as ‘Tina’ in the gay community. GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate), GBL (gammabutyrolactone), MDMA, mephedrone, ‘poppers’ (amyl nitrite) and erectile dysfunction drugs are all known to be involved to varying degrees.
A report by a London clinic, 56 Dean Street, titled ‘The art of ART (antiretroviral therapy)’ described chemsex as ‘the perfect storm’ of a highly sexual population, high HCV/HIV prevalence and high-risk sex practices. The men using drugs, especially those new to the scene, were sometimes naïve about drug use and the parties didn’t always have ‘care pathways’ to assist those who needed it, the report adds. In Australia, chemsex parties are part of the ‘Party and Play’ (or PnP) scene, held in private homes or sex venues
and enjoyed by a small but significant proportion of the male gay population, according to experts. “I would say chemsex is a significant thing but I don’t know how major it is,” says Dr Beng Eu, from the Prahran Clinic in Melbourne. “It’s a very particular group and practice, and only a certain percentage would be involved in it, but it’s there.” Professor Martin Holt from the University of NSW has been periodically surveying the gay community for more
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