Chemsex, also called PnP or party and play, is a term for having sex while using drugs, often in a party or group sex environment. While lots of people combine sex and drugs, chemsex is a term mostly used by gay or bisexual men, and men who have sex with men (sometimes referred to as GBMSM).
What kinds of drugs are used for chemsex?
The most common drugs used for PnP include crystal meth, GHB, and ketamine. These drugs increase sexual arousal and lower peoples’ inhibitions, which can make sex feel more intense.
Some people also use other drugs during chemsex like poppers, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana and alcohol. But, these drugs aren’t always part of it. Some might also take erectile dysfunction medications, like Viagra, to party and play for longer without losing their erection. That’s because drugs like meth and ketamine can make it difficult to stay hard for a long period of time.
Is it safe to use drugs like that when having sex?
There can be health risks for using certain drugs together. For example, mixing Viagra and poppers can cause someone’s blood pressure to drop suddenly, which can lead to a stroke or heart attack. Combining different drugs can also raise the risk for overdose. And, using drugs when having sex can make consent more complicated, or even impossible for some people!
There’s also some evidence that people who party and play can be at higher risk for STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia. Injecting drugs like meth in a party and play environment can also raise someone’s risk for Hep C and HIV.
When using recreational drugs, it can help to know what the laws around them are. In Quebec, if you’re caught with certain drugs like crystal meth, there can be a risk for getting in trouble legally.
In short, chemsex is risky. It raises the risk for STIs, drug interactions or overdose, and consent or boundary violations. There’s also a risk that using certain drugs could mean breaking the law. There’s no way to completely eliminate these risks while doing chemsex, so chemsex isn’t considered “safe”. There are some things people can do to make it safer, though — for more on that, keep reading!
So, if it’s risky, why do people do it?
There are lots of reasons why people might do drugs, have sex, or do both of those things at the same time. This doesn’t mean that these people don’t know or care about the risks. There’s no one reason why people choose to do things that have some health risks! But, some reasons why people might party and play include:
- It can feel good! Certain drugs can increase peoples’ sensitivity and make orgasms feel more intense.
- Using drugs during sex can help some people last longer.
- Drugs can help facilitate group sex by making people feel less socially inhibited and more emotionally connected.
- To provide a break from “conventional” sex and do something anonymous and taboo instead.
When it comes to sex and drugs, people take risks all the time in order to have a good experience, or even just to see how something feels. Not everyone is comfortable with some risks, and that’s okay. At SextEd, we don’t encourage people to take risks they’re not comfortable with, and we don’t recommend illegal activities. But we also don’t judge people if they choose to take certain risks with their own health. The important thing for us is making sure you have all the information you need to feel good about the choices you make for your own body!
What are some ways to make chemsex safer?
There are lots of ways to manage risk and be as safe as possible while still doing PnP, like:
- Doing it with people you trust and feel comfortable interacting with when under the influence
- Getting your drugs tested at places like Cactus, Spectre de Rue, or mobile sites like L’Anonyme! They can help you find out if your drugs have added fillers like caffeine, or possibly dangerous additions like fentanyl.
- Only injecting, snorting, or inhaling drugs with clean equipment, and not sharing things like needles or straws
- Using barriers like condoms and dental dams when possible
- Getting tested for STIs regularly and knowing your own status
- For people who have HIV, taking medication regularly to lower their viral load
- For people who don’t have HIV, taking PrEP and DoxyPrEP to lower their risk for HIV and other STIs
- Learning the laws around certain drugs in your area
There’s always some risk involved with chemsex. But, doing these things can lower the risk and help people look after themselves and the people around them. Sometimes, people call this harm reduction. Harm reduction is when you know that you can’t make an activity 100% safe, so you take steps to make it as safe as you can. When it comes to sex, harm reduction is a really important way people can take care of their health!
I’m into or curious about chemsex, where can I learn more and find harm reduction supplies?
You can get harm reduction supplies for chemsex (or for any reason!) at our parent organization, AIDS Community Care Montreal! Our Kontak program works within the GBMSM community to make sure harm reduction supplies are free and accessible to anyone who needs them to party and play. We offer free and confidential pick-up, consultation, and support services for people who who use substances and/or live with HIV.
