February 2nd 2025.
Several men who have previously engaged in chemsex have shared their experiences with Metro, shedding light on the world of chemsex. One man, Mattia, recalls his first encounter with chemsex at the age of 33. He and his friend, along with their drug dealer, ended up naked and engaging in a threesome after using drugs to enhance their sexual experience. Mattia admits that he was initially drawn to chemsex because he was bored with his job and relationship.
Mattia explains that chemsex, also known as party and play or wired play, involves using drugs to enhance sexual activities. He shares that he engaged in chemsex for seven years and at times, would go days without sleeping and even a month without using drugs. His days were consumed by waking up, smoking crack, watching porn, scrolling through the dating app Grindr, and masturbating.
One of the commonly used drugs in chemsex is crystal meth. Mattia admits to spending thousands of pounds on drugs and sex workers. He shares that he would often lie to his boyfriend and family in order to continue his destructive behavior. Mattia's story is not unique, as studies have shown that between 3-29% of men who have sex with men have participated in chemsex.
Chemsex can create a false sense of trust and invincibility, according to Ignacio Labayen de Inza, the founder and CEO of the support group Controlling Chemsex. This is why many individuals turn to chemsex, as it provides a temporary escape from their struggles with low self-esteem, fear of rejection, loneliness, isolation, and internalized homophobia.
However, the euphoria experienced during chemsex comes with serious risks, including an increased chance of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as depression, anxiety, weight loss, and paranoia. While chemsex is not a new issue, the root causes and beliefs that fuel it are deeply ingrained in the LGBTQ+ community.
Hook-up apps have also made it easier for individuals to find both drugs and partners willing to engage in chemsex. Terms like "hnh", "T", and diamond emojis are used in profiles to indicate a desire for chemsex, while chatrooms connect individuals to drug dealers.
Despite being identified as a health priority a decade ago, there is still a lack of understanding, research, funding, and access to support for those struggling with chemsex. One man, Adam, shares his experience of trying meth at the age of 30 while engaging in sexual activities with a man he met on Grindr.
Chemsex may provide a temporary escape from the struggles faced by many in the LGBTQ+ community, but it comes with serious consequences. If you or someone you know is struggling with chemsex, there is support available. You can contact Talk to Frank for information on how to get help and support. Let's work towards creating a community where individuals feel accepted and supported, and where engaging in harmful behaviors is not seen as a way to fit in.
Several men who have previously participated in chemsex have opened up to Metro about their experiences and what it entails. One of them, Mattia, described how quickly things escalated during his first time trying chemsex. While it may not have been an instant, he, his friend, and their drug dealer all ended up naked and engaging in a threesome. This was the first of many chemsex encounters for Mattia, who was in his 30s at the time and is now in his 40s.
Chemsex, also known as party and play or wired play, involves using drugs, typically illegal substances, to enhance sexual experiences. Mattia admitted that he initially turned to chemsex out of boredom and dissatisfaction with his job and relationship. He continued to engage in it for seven years, sometimes going days without sleep and rarely going a month without using drugs. His days became a routine of waking up, smoking crack, watching porn, scrolling through Grindr, and masturbating.
Crystal meth is a commonly used drug in chemsex, and Mattia spent thousands of pounds on drugs and sex workers. He also shared some of the tools he used while engaging in chemsex, including using Grindr to find other men to join in on the fun. With such a large LGBTQ+ community, Metro's vibrant WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the community. Simply clicking on the provided link and selecting "Join Chat" allows individuals to become a part of this supportive community.
Mattia admitted that during his chemsex encounters, his main focus was on the drugs and their effects on him. He described his mind being "totally out of control" and how he would spend large sums of money on escorts and drugs, all while lying to his boyfriend and family. He was trapped in a vicious cycle of unhealthy behaviors and couldn't wait to get out of work at 5pm to start it all over again.
However, Mattia is not alone in his struggle with chemsex. Between 3-29% of men who have sex with men have participated in it, using drugs like crystal meth, mephedrone, and GHB. These substances can create a false sense of trust and invincibility, according to Ignacio Labayen de Inza, the founder and CEO of the support group Controlling Chemsex. While most people smoke these drugs, there has been a rise in people injecting them instead.
If anyone needs support or information on how to get help, they can contact Talk to Frank via email, phone, text, or live chat. Ignacio also mentioned that there is a sense of peer pressure and a desire to fit in within the LGBTQ+ community, which can contribute to the prevalence of chemsex. However, as euphoric as it may feel, chemsex is associated with an increased risk of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, weight loss, and paranoia.
The issue of chemsex is not a new one, and neither are the underlying factors that contribute to it. According to Ignacio, the LGBTQ+ community often struggles with low self-esteem, fear of rejection, loneliness, isolation, the need for validation, and internalized homophobia. Hook-up apps like Grindr make it easier to find drugs and men to engage in chemsex with, as users can add keywords and emojis to their profiles to make their intentions clear, and chatrooms connect them to dealers.
Health leaders have identified chemsex as a health priority for over a decade, but a lack of understanding, research, funding, and access can make rehabilitation challenging for those struggling with it. Adam, for example, was only 30 when he first tried meth in 2014. He was having sex with a man he met on Grindr when the man pulled out a pipe for them to smoke. This is just one example of how easily accessible drugs can be through these apps.
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