Chemsex: how to stay safe and in control
Chemsex means using drugs during sexual activity. In this article, we’ll look at chemsex in more depth and share tips on how to stay safe and get back in control.
What is chemsex?
Chemsex is when people have sex or engage in sexual activity while under the influence of one or a mixture of three specific ‘chems’ (drugs).
It’s linked to gay and bisexual men’s communities, where some people use certain drugs to feel more confident, connected, or free during sex with other men. Not everyone who takes part in chemsex identifies as gay or bisexual, and not everyone in these communities takes part in chemsex.
Chemsex sessions can last a long time - sometimes several hours, and in some cases one to three days. This is because the drugs used can keep people awake, energetic, or alert for long periods, especially when people take more doses to keep the effects going.
Is chemsex safe?
Chemsex is not completely safe. The drugs used can affect your body, your judgment, and your ability to make clear decisions. Because they’re often taken over long periods - sometimes with little sleep, food, or water - the risks can build up quickly.
Using drugs like GHB/GBL, mephedrone, or crystal meth can lead to overdose, dehydration, heart strain, and memory loss. They can also make it harder to give or get clear consent, which can put you or others in unsafe situations.
There’s also a higher risk of STIs and blood-borne viruses (like HIV or hepatitis C) when sharing equipment or having unprotected sex.
What are chemsex drugs?
The most common drugs used in chemsex are gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), mephedrone, and methamphetamine (also known as crystal meth).
Mephedrone
Mephedrone (sometimes called meph, drone, or meow meow) is a stimulant drug. It can be swallowed, snorted, injected (known as slamming), or administered rectally (known as booty bumping).
It can make people feel more awake, excited, and confident. It can also cause a racing heart, sweating, jaw clenching, sickness, and anxiety. When used for long periods or mixed with other drugs, it can lead to paranoid, panic, or overdose.
Because it makes people feel more alert and lowers inhibitions, it can be easy to take too much, forget to drink water, or stay awake too long.
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine (often called crystal meth, meth, Tina, Ice, Clouds, Crystal, Glass, Tik or Speed) is a stimulant drug. It can be smoked, snorted, or mixed with water and injected, or administered rectally.
It can make people feel energised, confident, and very alerty, and is sometimes used in chemsex to make sex last longer or feel more intense.
Methamphetamine can cause sleep disruption, a fast heartbeat, high blood pressure, overheating, anxiety, and paranoia. When used for long periods or in high doses, it can lead to psychosis - seeing or hearing things that aren’t there - and serious mental health problems.
Because meth can make feel powerful or awake for days, it’s easy to forget to eat, drink, or rest, which can harm your body. It can also make it harder to use protection or give clear consent during sex.
GHB and GBL
GHB and GBL are sedatives. They can be swallowed in small liquid doses, added as a powder to a soft drink, or injected.
They can make people feel relaxed, confident, and more connected, which is why they’re sometimes used in chemsex. But they are very strong, and the difference between a dose that feels god and a dose that causes an overdose can be tiny.
Taking too much can make you pass out, struggle to breathe, or even stop breathing completely. Mixing GHB or GBL with alcohol, tranquilisers, or other depressant drugs makes this much more likely and can be fatal.
Because GHB and GBL wear off quickly, some people take more too soon. This is called redosing, and it greatly increases the risk of overdose.
How to stay safer during chemsex
The safest option is not to use drugs before or during sexual activity. But if you choose to take part in chemsex, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and others.
When chemsex becomes problematic
For some people, chemsex can start out as something social, exciting, or freeing - but over time, it can become hard to control or start to affect other parts of life. This might happen slowly, or it might feel like things change all at once.
Chemsex may be becoming a problem if you notice:
- You’re using more often or for longer than you planned
- You feel you can’t enjoy sex without drugs
- You’re missing work, sleep, or responsibilities after sessions
- You feel anxious, low, or ashamed afterwards
- You’ve had unwanted sex, injury, or infections, or can’t remember what happened
- You’ve tried to cut down or stop but find it difficult
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone - and it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. Drugs can change how your brain works, making it hard to stop even when you want to. Support is available to help you take back control at your own pace.
You can talk in confidence to us, a sexual health clinic, or a GP for free non-judgmental help and advice.
Chemsex and consent
Consent means agreeing freely and clearly to take part in sexual activity - and it’s one of the most important parts of staying safe during chemsex. But drugs can affect how people think, feel, and respond, which makes it harder to give or recgonise consent.
When someone is high or under the influence, they might:
- Struggle to say yes or no clearly
- Feel pressured to take part even if they don’t want to
- Misread another person’s signals
- Forget what happened later or have memory gaps
If someone is asleep, unconscious, or too intoxicated to make decisions, they cannot give consent. Drugs can also blur boundaries, especially during long sessions. It’s important to check-in regularly, use clear communication, and respect a “no” - even if someone agreed earlier in the night.
To reduce risks during chemsex:
- Talk openly about limits, safety, and what each person is comfortable with before starting a session
- Use safe words or signals
- Avoid giving or accepting doses from others, so you know what and how much you’ve taken
- Look out for your friends - if someone seems out of it, stop and make sure they’re safe.
Chemsex should always be about mutual respect and choice - not pressure, confusion, or harm. Making consent a clear, ongoing part of every interactions helps everyone stay safer and respected.
If you’ve been assaulted during chemsex, it’s understandable to feel scared or unsure about speaking to the police. But being honest about what happened, including what you took, can help keep you safe and make sure you get the right support.
You won’t be arrested for using or telling the police you’ve used drugs. Police and medical staff are mainly concerned about your safety and wellbeing. They need accurate information to understand what happened and to collect evidence properly.
You can report a sexual assault by calling 101 if it isn’t an emergency, or on 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. You can report anonymously if you wish through:
- Crimestoppers
- National Ugly Mugs (for sex workers)
- Police partners like Galop or Survivors UK
If you’re not ready to go to the police, but you should get medical help for any injuries and because you may be at risk of sexually transmitted infections. Sexual assault referral centres offer medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, secually assaulted, or abused.
Getting support
We’re here for anyone in Stoke-on-Trent affected by drugs and alcohol. We’re not here to judge, just listen and provide support if you need it. Whether you want safer use advice, help to cut down or stop using drugs, or just someone to talk to, we’re here to support you.
You can drop in, call, or email us in confidence. Our team can offer practical help, health advice, BBV testing, clean equipment and more.
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