If you're doing chems and having chemsex, the best way to stay safe is to know more about what you're taking.
Find out everything you need to know:
According to the Office for National Statistics, around half a million people in England and Wales become survivors of sexual assault each year. Of this number, an estimated 12,000 are men who survive a rape or attempted rape. Read more
I’d already been drinking and abusing drugs for more than a decade and shooting up meth for six years when I stopped everything 22 years ago, at age 28. Read more
Hello, my name is Ralf and I am an addict. This is something I have had to get used to saying. Read more
Chemsex has become an undeniable presence in the gay community, if only a comparatively small one, and it looks like it’s here to stay. There are many reasons gay and bisexual men partake in chemsex scene and in varying degrees of intensity, from casual fun, to a need to connect and satisfy urges. Read more
Sex toys can be a fun addition to a party but before you play here's what you need to know about keeping your toys in top condition. Read more
If you’ve been to a chill out, sex party or sauna and you blacked out or can’t remember what happened, you might want to seek help... Read more
Be clear about what you want. Think about the kind of sex you want to have and be clear in your own mind of what your boundaries are. Read more
Sometimes when people take too much G they go into a ‘G-sleep’, where they pass out. If you see this happening to someone you're with (even if you're in a big group) make sure you look after them. The sooner you notice, the more help you can help be to them. Read more
If you need more help and support about any aspect of your chemsex life, then click the links below Read more
Hepatitis C - hep C - is a growing problem among gay men having chemsex. Read more
Injecting drugs like crystal meth and mephedrone is known as slamming. If you’re going to slam, do it safely. Read more
What’s the difference between hepatitis A, B and C? How can they affect you? And how can you treat them? Read more
Post Exposure Prophylaxis, or PEP, is a course of HIV medication which you can take if you have been at risk of HIV infection. Read more
Find out how and where to get a free HIV and STI home testing kit Read more
PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis. It's a pill that HIV negative people take to prevent HIV transmission. Read more
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
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