Risk Reduction

Question 1

What is chemsex?

Answer 1

Chemsex can be described as sex whilst under the influence of drugs that have been taken immediately before or during a sexual session

Question 2

Which drugs are most commonly used in chemsex?

Answer 2

Mephedrone, GHB and Methamphetamine

Question 3

What are the effects of chemsex?

Answer 3

1. Heighten feelings of sexual desire
2. Lower inhibition
3. Increased performance, prolonged periods
4. Facilitate trying new sexual practices
5. More risk taking behaviours, increased likelihood of condomless sex

Question 4

What are GHB and GBL?

Answer 4

They are different drugs, but GBL is converted into GHB in the body
They are sedative/depressant drugs

Question 5

How are GHB and GBL taken?

Answer 5

Comes as a clear, colourless, odourless liquid that is often oily in appearance. Taken by swallowing drops or capfuls of the liquid often mixed into non-alcoholic drinks.

Question 6

How often should GHB/GBL be taken?

Answer 6

GHB should not be taken more than 2-hourly due to the risk of overdose

Question 7

Do GHB/GBL interact with anything?

Answer 7

Mixing with alcohol can increase the depressive effects, increasing the risk of loss of consciousness, overdosing or even respiratory arrest. HIV medication such as the protease inhibitors Darunavir, Atazanavir and Lopinavir, or the pharmacokinetic boosters Ritonavir and Cobisistat can interact with the drug increasing both the levels of GHB/GBL in the blood to dangerous levels and the risk of overdose and long-term harm

Question 8

How is mephedrone taken?

Answer 8

As a fine powder, often a whitish or yellow colour.
The powder is often snorted or wrapped in paper and swallowed (bombing). It can also be smoked, mixed with water and injected (slammed) or inserted rectally (booty bumping)

Question 9

Does mephedrone interact with anything?

Answer 9

HIV medication such as the protease inhibitors Darunavir, Atazanavir and Lopinavir, or the pharmacokinetic boosters Ritonavir and Cobisistat can interact with the drug increasing the levels of Mephedrone in the blood to dangerous levels and increasing the risk of overdose and long-term harm.

Question 10

How is crystal meth taken?

Answer 10

Comes in white or colourless crystals that can be crushed into a powder or formulated into pills. Crystals can be smoked in glass pipes, crushed into powders and snorted, mixed with water and injected (slamming) or inserted rectally (booty bumping)

Question 11

Does crystal meth interact with anything?

Answer 11

Alcohol mixing can have unpredictable effects causing worsening of harms associated with Methamphetamine. HIV medication such as the protease inhibitors Darunavir, Atazanavir and Lopinavir, or the pharmacokinetic boosters Ritonavir and Cobisistat can interact with the drug increasing the levels of Methamphetamine in the blood to dangerous levels and increasing the risk of overdose and long-term harm

Question 12

What risk reduction advice can be given when someone is/with someone who is engaging in chemsex?

Answer 12

1. Use a syringe to measure GHB/GBL - start with smll doses, 0.5ml
2. Do not repeat doses more than 3 hourly
3. Do not mix with alcohol
4. If a person has overdosed, put them in the recovery position, call and ambulance and tell them what they have taken
5. If using crystal meth, use clean needles and don’t share
6. To prepare for a come down, patients should keep a supply of non-alcoholic drinks and easy to prepare foods
7. If users wish to stop, counsel re: deleting apps to reduce temptation, exploring alternative things to do etc.