Understanding different settings where chemsex takes place

Having an awareness and understanding of the different contexts and settings in which chemsex takes place is important if you’re going to better manage the risks and harms associated with sex and chems. In this section we’ll explore the typical settings where people meet and engage in chemsex and what this might mean for you to stay safe and well.  

We’ve grouped this ‘sexual landscape’ into four key areas:

• Hook up Apps
• Chillouts and sex parties
• Saunas
• Sex on premises venues

Dating or ‘hook up’ Apps

Whether you’re using chems or not, most people with a smartphone or computer use dating sites or ‘hook-up’ apps to meet.  

Depending on which apps or websites you use and where you are, it may seem that a lot of people you chat to online these days are on, or into, drugs. People who are high or at a chillout may spend lots of time online messaging and looking for others to meet up with.  

Tips for healthier app use

• Set up your profile to clearly state what you are, and what you are not looking for
• When chatting, clearly communicate your boundaries and expectations. It’s good to let someone know what you're happy and not happy doing
• Get to know a bit about each other before you meet - this can help establish trust and ensure that both parties feel comfortable
• Bring up the issue of protecting each other’s sexual health. You might want to discuss PrEP use or HIV treatment, condoms and when each other last tested. It's usually better to have these conversations before you actually meet.
• If using chems, be clear about who is supplying these and how they’re being taken. For example will injecting (slamming) be involved and are you both comfortable with that?
• Beware of feeling pressured into doing something you’re not comfortable with. Apps can sometimes create power imbalances, especially if one person has more experience or is more dominant.
• Remember that consent can be withdrawn at any time. Agreeing to meet up with someone does not mean you are agreeing to anything the other person wants to do.
• If the person you’re chatting to is high, they may not be thinking or acting in a normal way. People are more likely to chat about their sexual fantasies if they’re taking chems. Some guys may find they have types of sex which they don’t feel comfortable with afterwards.
• After chemsex, consider logging off your profile or deleting it. This can help to avoid the temptation of carrying on when you know you need to stop

Compulsive app use

Regardless of chem use, many people find themselves spending more time than they would like on hook up apps. For people who engage in chemsex, they describe a strong relationship between the apps and their drug use. Chems are very accessible on many apps which can make using them difficult for someone who is trying to avoid chemsex.  

For more information on how to better manage your use of hook-up apps – check out our page here

Chill-outs and sex parties

Chill-outs or sex parties often take place at people’s homes. They may involve meeting one on one or several people and larger groups, with people coming and going at different times. Sometimes, parties can go on for a number of days. These are usually arranged on hook up apps.  

Tips before going to a chillout or sex party

Be clear about your limits

The often high turnover of people at chillouts can mean that you come into contact with others who might be doing certain chems or be into types of sex (such as barebacking or fisting), which you might not be comfortable with. When high, it’s easier to let your boundaries slip, so it’s a good idea to think about what your limits are beforehand. It might even help to write these down for yourself.  

Scope it out

If you’re thinking of joining a session (or getting someone new over) ask a few questions to make sure you know what you/they are getting into:

• Are there other people there and if so how many?
• How long has the chillout or party been going?

• What chems are you doing?
• Is anyone injecting drugs (slamming)?
• Are you or others using condoms?
• Are you and others undetectable or on PrEP?

Beware the time warp  

Once you’re in a session and high it may be hard to stop and it’s easy to lose track of time. Decide before you start when you need to finish and be realistic about when this is, allowing for a good night’s sleep and enough time to recover before you need to be sober.

Prepare

Check out our page on how to prepare for a chemsex session for more information.

Saunas

Gay saunas or bathhouses can be found in most big cities around the UK as well as abroad. While most saunas will have a ‘no drugs’ policy, there may still be drug use taking place. Drug taking in a sauna carries risks that can be quite different to other settings.

Time-keeping

With your phone in a locker, the sauna’s low-level lighting, a lack of daylight and few clocks in sight, it can be hard to keep track of time. It can be really easy to spend long periods in a sauna and stay longer than you meant to. It can also be more difficult to keep track of when you’ve taken any drugs, which is especially dangerous when taking G.

Your security

Some saunas are stricter than others when it comes to their drugs policy. You’re more likely to get caught and in trouble if using drugs at a sauna than if you’re using at someone’s home. It’s easy for sauna staff to search lockers and, as you’re likely to be wearing only a towel, there aren’t many places to hide what you’re carrying.

You’re also more likely to be disturbed by others at a sauna while taking drugs. This can make dosing G and injecting other chems more dangerous than normal as you may be feeling the need to rush or hide what you’re doing.  

Using Sauna cabins

To keep out of sight, people are more likely to take drugs in private cabins. As lighting may be poor and without access to the correct equipment or clear surfaces, it can be easier to make mistakes – particularly with dosing G or injecting other drugs.

While cabins may offer some degree of privacy, this can be very dangerous if something goes wrong. Where deaths have been reported from drug use in saunas, this has often been where someone has got into difficulties in a cabin and others have not realised until it’s too late.

If you pass out or fall asleep in a cabin you’re potentially very vulnerable as there could be a large number of strangers who have access to the room. People have reported sexual abuse and rape which has taken place in these settings – such assaults are often related to drug use.

Tips for safer sauna use

• Try to go with a friend or let someone know where you are – it can make a big difference having someone to look out for you and check in with, especially if you’re using private cabins
• Avoid ending up in a sauna and looking for drugs to buy. Being dependent on other people to get drugs can put you in a situation you might not be comfortable with.
• Drink plenty of water. It’s easy to dehydrate in a sauna, especially if you’re high. Be careful of spending hours in a cabin without drinking.
• Don’t share drinks or take a sip of someone else’s – it might contain their G dose.
• Try to eat something while you’re in there to keep your energy up.
• Most saunas should have condoms and lube – you can carry them in your towel or wristband with your key. If you need a particular size of condom, you might need to bring your own.
• Set yourself a time when you know you should leave the sauna and try to stick to it. Taking in a limited amount of cash or chems may also help limit the amount you use
• Turn off your phone when it’s in your locker. Saving battery will ensure you have enough power left to get home or if you need to contact someone.
• Be sure to have any regular meds with you, in case you end up staying longer than you planned

Sex on premises venues and clubs

While many people have chemsex in the comfort of their own or other people’s homes, some people prefer to have sex in places that allow sex on the premises.  

People enjoy going to sex on premises venues (SPV’s) such as sex clubs, fetish parties, dark rooms and cruising areas for various reasons. They may like being watched by others, get turned on by the thrill of being caught, or prefer the anonymity where there’s little risk of being identified and they don’t need to talk. SPV’s are often seen as ‘free’ and ‘hedonistic’ ‘playgrounds’ by those who use them.  

Most SPV’s will have house rules that emphasise the importance of consent and typically discourage drug use. The majority of parties and sex on premises venues have a welfare team and/or staff members who will be available to help with any issues related to drug use or sexual harassment.  

The role of venue welfare staff  

Welfare staff are a common and important presence at fetish parties and SPVs, as they provide vital support for people navigating these environments. They are often trained community members who will provide support that is different to traditional venue security teams.  

Typically, their role is to make sure everyone is safe and having a positive experience. This may include directing you to water to stay hydrated, providing condoms and lube, and even helping with calling for a taxi if you feel overwhelmed and need to leave. Welfare staff should also help in drug emergencies like if you are ‘g-ing out’ or having a bad time on chems, They should also ensure that consent is respected by venue-goers and support those who feel unsafe or are experiencing sexual harassment.

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