Chemsex: where to find help and non-judgemental support

You’re not alone

According to Santé publique France’s ERAS surveys, 13% of sexually active men who have sex with men practised chemsex in the previous 6 months in 2023. The researchers (Annie Velter, Perrine Roux) note that it’s associated with signs of psychosocial distress and call for tailored services: harm reduction, sexual health, psychological support. Those services exist.

Warning signs

• you can’t have sex without drugs any more, or sober sex no longer interests you;
• sessions get longer (several days), doses go up;
• comedowns get harder: low mood, anxiety, dark thoughts;
• you miss work, isolate yourself, money disappears;
• you’ve had a G-hole, a collapse, memory blanks, or don’t know what happened;
• you’ve had sex you didn’t want.

You don’t have to want to stop completely to ask for help: cutting down, managing better or just talking about it already counts.

Where to find help (France)

AIDES

According to its resources page, the charity offers:

• a WhatsApp / Signal line: +33 7 62 93 22 29 (questions, support);
• a freephone number: 0805 160 011;
• a private Facebook group “Info Chemsex (by AIDES)” and a Telegram group;
• the Chillout support group, by video on Thursday evenings;
• free harm-reduction kit (syringes, straws, GHB measuring devices) and leaflets per drug;
• chemsex services in Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier and Paris.

Specialist places

Sexosafe lists:

• Le 190 (Paris), the first sexual health centre to set up a chemsex clinic;
• Le Checkpoint (Paris) for sexual health;
• CSAPA (addiction treatment centres), free, all over France, with doctors, psychologists and social workers;
• CAARUD (harm-reduction centres) for equipment and no-strings support.

By phone

• Drogues Info Service: 0 800 23 13 13 (free, anonymous, 7 days a week);
• Sida Info Service: 0 800 840 800 for prevention questions (PrEP, PEP).

Outside France, look for local LGBT+ health services and chemsex support: many big cities now have them.

Your doctor

Your GP or the doctor following you for PrEP or HIV can refer you. You can simply say: “I do chemsex and I need help.” Medical confidentiality applies.

Emergencies

Collapse, loss of consciousness, suicidal thoughts: call 112 (15 in France). For psychological distress in France: 3114 (national suicide prevention line), 24/7.