Campaigns and Hubs Legacy campaigns Consent | Chemsex Sexual assault | Chemsex Chemsex is often used to explore our sexual side, and at chill outs and after parties, you will likely meet, and potentially have sex with, different people. When you’re high and horny, boundaries can be blurred, you could be more vulnerable, and the lines of consent sometimes get lost. Drugs like GHB/GBL, crystal meth and mephedrone can affect judgement, memory, communication, decision-making and the ability to give or understand consent. Because of this, sexual assault can happen in chemsex settings. This can include experiences that you may not immediately recognise as assault, especially if your memory is patchy, boundaries were unclear, or you feel confused afterwards. If something happened during chemsex that didn’t feel right, support is available. You don’t need to be certain about what happened to ask for help. What is sexual assault? Sexual assault is when someone touches a person in a sexual way without consent, or when a person forces or coerces someone to touch them in a sexual way without consent. The term 'sexual assault' is generally used to refer to any form of sexual violence or abuse. Unwanted sexual contact also includes: Kissing Touching Groping or any unwanted intimate contact and attention. If you have not given consent and agreed to the sexual activity, then you have experienced sexual assault. This is not your fault. Someone who has been sexually assaulted may have no physical injuries or signs of the assault, however, sexual assault is still a crime and can be reported to the Police in the same way as other crimes. Consent in chemsex settings Consent means that you have chosen to give permission and have capacity to make an informed decision around the type of intimacy or sex that you want. Sexual consent can be verbal or non-verbal to indicate “yes”. People who are asleep, unconscious or “out of it” on drugs or alcohol, cannot give consent because they do not have the capacity to do so. In chemsex settings, consent can become more complicated because drugs can affect: Ability to make decisions Ability to communicate clearly Awareness of what’s happening Memory of what happened afterwards Ability to say no or change your mind Ability to notice another person’s boundaries Someone who is unconscious, asleep, very high, confused, or unable to communicate cannot consent. Just because someone agreed earlier, attended a chill out, used drugs, or consented to one type of sex doesn’t mean they consented to everything. Why sexual assault can be harder to recognise after chemsex Some people blame themselves after an assault in chemsex settings. Others worry they will not be believed because drugs were involved, or fear they might be judged. None of this means it was your fault. You may want or need support if: You woke up and don’t know what happened You were assaulted while unconscious or unable to respon Someone ignored your no, hesitation or boundaries You were filmed or photographed without permission You were given drugs without consent You feel distressed, ashamed, frightened or confused afterwards You don’t need proof or certainty to seek help. There are LGBTQ+ services that you can talk to and you can report it if you want to [LINK]. What to do after a sexual assault in a chemsex There is no right or wrong way to respond. Do what feels safest for you. If you've been sexually assaulted, it's important to remember that it was not your fault. It is a crime, no matter who commits it or where it happens. Don't be afraid to get help as there are people dedicated to help you to decide what you want to do next. If it has happened recently: If this is something that has just happened then you may be feeling upset, scared, confused, numb or angry. These are common emotions, and there is no right or wrong way to feel. Just remember: this is not your fault. If you feel like you are not in immediate danger, here are some next steps you can follow: Try to get somewhere that feels safe Contact or try to be with someone you trust - A friend, family, chosen family, a loved one, home, even somewhere familiar. Don’t feel like you have to be alone. Talk to someone - This could be someone you trust or a support helpline (see below) If you are in immediate danger or in need of medical attention call 999. There’s no pressure for you to report the sexual assault to the police, but you may need to think through what happened, perhaps keeping a record of who the perpetrator was, where the assault happened, when the assault happened etc. You may need some of this information in the future should you decide to officially report it. We know this can be difficult, which is why sharing your experience may help ease the burden. If you think you may have been drugged or injected without consent, seek medical help as soon as possible. If you are a survivor of penetrative sexual assault or rape, you may have to seek sexual health care. You can access PEP at your local A&E or sexual health clinic for exposure to HIV. PEP is emergency HIV medication that prevent someone becoming HIV-positive. You have to start taking PEP within 72 hours of exposure, ideally within the first 24 hours. You may need to access emergency contraception such as the morning after pill. The sooner you use emergency contraception, the more effective it usually is. You can get the emergency morning after pill at: sexual health clinics family planning or contraception clinics GP surgeries NHS walk-in centres Some pharmacies. We would also advise having a full sexual health check-up via your local GUM clinic. You can find your nearest services here. If you are unsure, call the NHS helpline on 111. At a hospital or Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) they may offer you a forensic medical examination. A specially trained nurse or doctor will do the examination and you can ask to see a female or male nurse or doctor. You will be supported throughout the process. They will: Take your medical history Explain the process Make sure you're safe and well Make a record of any injuries Take samples such as swabs which may help with an investigation You can decide whether you want to give evidence but not share it with the police yet. Before a forensic medical exam, try not to: Wash Brush your teeth Change your clothes Use the toilet Eat or drink Smoke Clean or tidy where the assault took place (e.g. if it took place in your home). Before the forensic medical exam, try to: Keep things that you’ve used like condoms, tampons, sanitary towels or tissues. Store them in a clear plastic bag if possible Stand on a towel or newspaper if you decide to change your clothes. This will catch anything that could fall from them, e.g. the perpetrator's hair. If you decide to change clothes, then keep them unwashed in a paper bag If you do need to use the bathroom, try and collect your urine in a clean container Keep other people and pets away from where it happened. Don't panic if you've already done any of these things, or if it's too late to do any of these things. That doesn't mean it's too late to collect forensic evidence. We know this can sound frightening or intimidating but you will be supported throughout and you can request to have a friend or advocate with you throughout the examination process. Remember, you aren’t alone. Reporting sexual assault Sexual assault is a crime and can be reported to the police. If you do report the assault, a specially trained police officer guide you through the process. The Police will investigate the assault and you will be offered a forensic medical examination and will be asked to make a statement about what happened. The police will pass their findings, including the forensic report, to the Crown Prosecution Service, who will decide whether the case should go to trial. It is recommended to try not to wash or change your clothes immediately after a sexual assault because this may destroy forensic evidence that could be important if you decide to report the assault to the police (although you can still go to the police even if you have done so). Get further information here. Remember, you don’t have to be touched for a sexual assault to be committed, and you do not have to shout/say ‘stop’. If you are forced, tricked, scared or persuaded into sexual activity without your consent, then this is sexual assault by definition of the law. This makes it a crime. Getting support There is support for LGBTQ+ people, which includes: Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) Police (999 in an emergency, 101 for non-emergency) Sexual health clinics LGBTQ+ mental health or counselling service Local rape crisis or survivor support services Drug and alcohol services familiar with chemsex Our Chemsex Support Directory has lots of help and support services you can contact [LINK} Manage Cookie Preferences