Alcohol is in fact a depressant drug so if you're feeling down it could end up making you feel even worse. Getting really drunk can put you in situations where you have less or no control. Read more
GHB (gammahydroxybutyrate), or G, is a liquid drug that you drink. It gives you a similar feeling to alcohol as it works on the same receptors in the brain. Like alcohol, it’s used for binging but you can also become addicted to it. Read more
Crystal meth (or Tina as it is sometimes known) is increasingly commonly used by gay men for sex. It’s a powerful stimulant which keeps you awake for a very long time and makes you feel all-powerful, very horny and highly compulsive. Read more
Mephedrone is a powder drug which is extremely popular on the gay scene because it’s easily available, inexpensive and very intense. Read more
Ecstasy (pill version) and MDMA (powder version) have been commonly used on the party scene for many years. Even though many people still take the drug, its quality has decreased significantly in the past 20 years. Read more
Cocaine or coke is a drug made from coca plants. It is a stimulant that comes in a flaky, white and odourless powder and is usually snorted in small amounts (in a line or a bump) through a straw or a rolled up bank-note. Read more
Most commonly, cannabis is rolled with tobacco into a joint or smoked pure through a pipe, bong or rolled spliff. It can sometimes also be eaten, for example in cakes, which usually strengthens the effect. Read more
Poppers usually come in a small bottle and take the form of clear or straw-coloured liquid that resembles the odour of industrial glue. Read more
Crack is a smokeable form of cocaine which is much purer than soluble cocaine. It is also much easier for the body to absorb, making its effect stronger. Read more
Ketamine is a strong general suppressant and anaesthetic used during operations on humans and animals. It is also used as a recreational drug by LGBTQ+ people. Read more
Heroin is highly addictive and, because users usually inject it, it is important not to share needles in order to avoid passing on HIV and hep C... Read more
Whether you want to cut down, or go completely sober this Xmas, our resident expert Scott has some advice for you. Read more
Scott shares his journey through alcohol problems, and how he found peace in sobriety. Read more
I woke up to a beautiful early September morning, possibly one of the last scorchers of the year. Upon opening my curtains, a trip down to Brighton beach seemed like a thoroughly enticing idea. So I armed myself with a good book, an embarrassingly high SPF and set off. Read more
Alcohol and drug support services for LGBT people Read more