Campaigns and Hubs Legacy campaigns Help, support, treatment | Chemsex How do chemsex drug support and treatment programmes work? Chemsex support and drug treatment services are designed to help you understand your relationship with drugs, sex, and wellbeing, and to support any changes you want to make, whether that’s staying safer, taking back control, or stopping completely. Support is flexible, confidential, and shaped around your needs, identity, and goals. How can I get support? Most people access chemsex-related support through: Sexual health clinics (especially chemsex-aware services) Your GP or NHS mental health services Specialist LGBTQ+ or chemsex services Self-referral to drug and alcohol services You don’t usually need a referral, and you can often choose where to start. Many services are LGBTQ+ inclusive, and some are specifically experienced in chemsex. You can find different types of services in our directory [LINK] What sort of support can I expect? Different services offer different things but often follow the same pattern of support. Below we will break down what you might receive after entering the support system. Step 1: Initial assessment Your first contact is usually an assessment appointment. This is a confidential, non-judgemental conversation where a specialist will ask you about: Your drug use (including chemsex) Your sexual health and sexual wellbeing Your mental health, mood, and stress Your relationships, identity, and support networks What you want to change (if anything) This can also include understanding: Experiences of shame, stigma, or isolation Use of apps or hook-ups as a trigger for drug use The links between sex and drug use This is not about labelling you, it’s about understanding what support might help. Step 2: Your care plan After an initial assessment, you’ll agree a personalised care plan. This is flexible and can change over time. Your goals will vary but might include things like: Reducing chemsex use Having more control over when and how you use Improving mental health or sexual health Reducing harm while still using Wanting to stop completely There are different types of support you might be offered. See a breakdown of the support available further on in this factsheet. Step 3: Ongoing support and change over time Once you choose your care plan it will be regularly reviewed with you, and you’ll be supported on this throughout. You can do things like: Change goals that work better for you Step up or step-down support Pause and restart Shift from harm reduction to stopping (and vice versa) Recovery isn’t a straight path, especially in chemsex, where sex, community, and drug use are often closely connected. What type of support is available? There are different types of support you might be offered: One-to-one support with a keyworker or counsellor: These will be regular confidential sessions focused on things like: Chemsex patterns and triggers Emotional wellbeing and mental health Sexual health and relationships Planning changes at your own pace LGBTQ+ and chemsex counselling: Therapy with someone who understands the experiences of LGBTQ+ people can help explore deeper themes such as: Shame and stigma Intimacy and connection Trauma or past experiences Identity and self-worth Peer support and group work: These peer support groups bring LGBTQ+ people together with shared experiences. These spaces can help with: Reducing isolation Hearing other people’s experiences Building community outside the chemsex scene Harm reduction support: Harm reduction does not require stopping use. It focuses on safety and control, including: Safer dosing and mixing awareness Managing comedowns and sleep Planning sessions and setting limits Safer sex and consent Overdose prevention (especially relevant for GHB/GBL) Sexual health services integrated with drug support: Many people access chemsex support through sexual health clinics. These can provide: STI testing and treatment HIV prevention (PrEP/PEP) Chemsex advice Links into counselling or drug services Referrals to specialist services around sexual assault Medical support (GP and NHS services): Your GP or NHS services can support in a variety of different ways: Mental health (anxiety, depression, burnout) Sleep and physical health issues Referrals to specialist services talkative services Medication support if needed Detox and residential rehab: Some people may need more structured support, which could mean in-patient or out-patient stays at rehab facilities. Detox: medical support to safely stop or reduce certain drugs (especially important in heavy GHB/GBL/Crystal Meth use) Residential rehab: live-in structured treatment combining therapy, group work, and medical care These are not the first step for most people but may be offered if more intensive support is needed. How can the Chemsex Support Hub help? The Chemsex Support Hub provides information, advice and support for LGBTQ+ people who want to understand more about chemsex. Whether you’re curious, currently taking part in chemsex, worried about your drug use, or supporting someone else, the hub offers non-judgemental information to help you look after your health and wellbeing. The hub includes advice on: Understanding chemsex and the drugs involved Safer sex and reducing risks Consent and communication Looking after your mental health Chemsex, lifestyle and addiction Finding LGBTQ+ friendly support services The Chemsex Support Hub is here to help you make informed choices and take care of your sexual health and wellbeing. [LINK] Manage Cookie Preferences