Thursday, 29th March 2018

Trade Sexual Health in partnership with Turning Point, Leicester Sexual Health Services and local authorities created the Leicester Chemsex survey to understand the use of drugs before or during sex (Chemsex). This survey was targeted to gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with me, across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The Leicester Chemsex Survey ran from 22nd August 2017 until 31st January 2018. During that time, 123 responses to the survey were received.

The survey was promoted on Trade's Facebook and Twitter accounts, at Leicester Pride 2017, and through apps targeted towards gay and bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), including Scruff and Grindr.

Of the 123 respondents of the survey, 51 (42%) self-identified as having taken recreational drugs in the past 12 months, including before or during sex.

Here is a summary of the results:

The most common drugs used before or during sex were:

• Ketamine (27%) – 14 respondents

• Crystal Meth (37%) – 19 respondents

• Mephedrone (43%) – 22 respondents

• GHB/GBL (59%) – 30 respondents

• Cocaine (59%) – 30 respondents 

Other drugs mentioned included Ecstasy/MDMA, cannabis and poppers.

When asked on a scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree:

• Over three-quarters of respondents (76%) agreed or strongly agreed that they enjoyed taking drugs.

• Under one-fifth of respondents (16%) said they do not know or were unsure how to use drugs in a safe way.

• A quarter of respondents said that they would not know or were unsure where to go that if they wanted advice about drug use.

• Almost a half of respondents (47%) agreed or strongly agreed that they felt like drug use was having a negative effect on their life.

• Nearly 75% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they were more likely to have unsafe sex when high/on drugs.

• 84% agreed or strongly agreed that they would do things sexually that they would not do if they were sober.

• A third of respondents said that they were not able to enjoy sex without using drugs.

When asked where people would like to go if they wanted advice about drug use:

• Over half (59%) said they would want to access advice from a specialist LGB&T organisation, like Trade Sexual Health

• Under 1/3 of respondents (31%) said they would want to access advice from a standard drug service, like Turning Point.

• 29% said they would want to access advice through their GP.

• 17% said they would want to access advice through a specialist sexual health service.

• Other places people said they would want to access advice included online and through peer groups, such as friends.

Demographics of the 51 Chemsex respondents

Age

• 37% were aged between 36-49
• 29% were aged between 26-35
• 18% were aged between 21-25
• 10% were aged between 50-65
• 6% were aged between 18-20

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