Chemsex support: honest, non-judgemental help in the UK

Please read this first

Never mix G with alcohol. The London sexual health clinic 56 Dean Street advises against mixing alcohol or ketamine with G (GHB or GBL), because it increases your chance of “going under”. FRANK warns that an overdose of G is easy to take and can end in unconsciousness, coma or death.

Going under is an emergency. Call 999 if someone can’t be woken, is breathing strangely, has a fit or has chest pain. Stay with them, tell the crew everything that has been taken, and don’t leave them to sleep it off. If they’re out cold but still breathing, turn them on their side in the recovery position while you wait.

Poppers and Viagra don’t mix. FRANK says poppers can make your blood pressure drop, and that you shouldn’t use them if you’re taking erectile dysfunction medicine such as Viagra.

Consent matters every time. If someone is too high to know what’s happening, stop. FRANK says GHB and GBL have been linked to rape and other sexual assaults. If something happened that you didn’t agree to, the NHS says you can get help from a sexual assault referral centre without having to report it to the police.

PEP after possible HIV exposure. The NHS says PEP is for anyone who thinks they’ve been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, and it’s available from sexual health clinics and A and E. Go as soon as you can.

Don’t stop G suddenly on your own. If you use G regularly, FRANK says withdrawal can bring confusion, shaking, seizures and coma, especially if you run out and have to stop suddenly. 56 Dean Street says G dependency is a medical emergency that needs a medical detox, so get medical help before you stop.

FRANK is confidential and open 24 hours on 0300 123 6600, or text 82111. If the days after a session leave you feeling hopeless or thinking about ending your life, you can call Samaritans for free on 116 123, 24 hours a day.

Chemsex means using drugs before or during sex. UK guidance for drug services focuses on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, and says the same advice may apply across LGBT communities (Public Health England, 2015). If that’s you, you’re welcome here, and so is anyone else this affects.

Your sexuality, your sex life and the people you meet aren’t the problem, and nothing on this page is about telling you how to live. This page looks only at the drugs and what they might be costing you: lost weekends, heavy comedowns, or sober sex that has started to feel out of reach. You might want to cut down, stop or simply play more safely, and there is specialist support for each of those.

What chemsex is, and the drugs involved

Public Health England says chemsex commonly involves crystal methamphetamine, GHB or GBL, and mephedrone, sometimes injected, which is known as slamming. 56 Dean Street says these drugs are chosen because they tend to reduce inhibitions and increase sex drive. The LGBT Foundation adds that cocaine, ketamine, MDMA and alcohol often come into it too, and that taking drugs together increases the risk.

I have separate pages on crystal meth, GHB and GBL and mephedrone if you want to read about one drug in more depth.

Signs chemsex has become a problem

  • Sessions getting longer, more frequent or harder to leave
  • Finding sex without chems difficult, or losing interest in it
  • Using G more often, or feeling shaky, sweaty or anxious when you go without
  • Comedowns that leave you low or empty for days
  • Missing doses of PrEP or HIV medication during or after sessions
  • Sex you later regret, or aren’t sure you agreed to

56 Dean Street also says chemsex has been linked to higher rates of STIs, including HIV.

Chemsex support services in the UK

  • Your local sexual health clinic. The NHS says sexual health clinics are free and available to everyone, and what you discuss stays confidential, including from your GP. They offer HIV and STI testing, PrEP and PEP. Find a sexual health clinic
  • 56 Dean Street, London. Health advisers offer chemsex support, starting with a phone assessment. Call 020 3315 5656 or see 56 Dean Street chemsex support.
  • LGBT Foundation, Manchester. One to one chemsex sessions for people in Manchester, and a monthly Chemsafe group covering sober sex, consent and online safety. FRANK lists 0345 330 3030 as the number for referrals. LGBT Foundation chemsex support
  • Antidote at London Friend. An LGBTQ+ drug and alcohol service that was the first in the UK to see people about chemsex. It runs two drop-ins a week, and you don’t need an appointment. Antidote
  • Controlling Chemsex. A registered charity offering weekly one to one support with a chemsex specialist adviser, peer mentoring and support for loved ones. Controlling Chemsex
  • FRANK and local drug services. FRANK is confidential and open 24 hours on 0300 123 6600, or text 82111. You can also contact a local drug service yourself. Find support near you
  • After sexual assault. Sexual assault referral centres have specially trained staff, and you don’t have to involve the police. NHS help after rape and sexual assault

Where hypnotherapy fits

Adam Cox, clinical hypnotherapist

Hypnotherapy is not a treatment for chemsex or drug dependence, and I don’t offer it as one. A sexual health clinic, a specialist chemsex service or a drug service needs to be part of your recovery, and if you use G regularly, medical support has to come first.

Where I can help is alongside that care. Chems often end up doing a job: easing nerves, quieting shame, making connection feel easier. When you cut down, those feelings are still there. Our sessions can work on stress, sleep, confidence, feeling at ease with sex and intimacy without drugs, and the routines and places linked to using, like certain apps, nights or flats. The changes are yours, and sessions can steady you while you make them.

Before we work together I’ll ask whether you’re getting support from a clinic, a chemsex service or your GP, and if you’re using G. If I think you need that support first, I’ll tell you honestly.

How to cut down on chemsex: steps that help

  • Take a break from the apps. Log out, delete them for a while or turn off notifications, especially on the nights you usually host or go out.
  • Keep your health routine going. 56 Dean Street encourages STI testing every 3 to 6 months, and recommends staying on PrEP, or your HIV medication if you’re living with HIV.
  • Look after each other. Never leave someone who has gone under on their own. FRANK’s page on what to do in an emergency is worth reading before you need it.
  • Plan your Mondays. The comedown can bring shame and loneliness with it. Line up a friend, food and something gentle to do.

Common questions

Is it safe to stop using G on my own?

Not if you use it regularly. FRANK says withdrawal can bring confusion, shaking, seizures and coma, and 56 Dean Street says G dependency is a medical emergency that needs a medical detox. Talk to a specialist service or your GP first, and if withdrawal has already started, go to A and E.

Can I get PEP after a chemsex session?

Yes. The NHS says PEP is for anyone who thinks they’ve been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours, and you can get it from sexual health clinics and A and E. The sooner you go, the better.

Is it confidential?

Yes. What you tell me stays between us. As with any therapist, the only exception is if I believed you or someone else were at serious risk of harm.

I’m worried about my partner or a friend. What can I do?

Controlling Chemsex offers support for loved ones, and Adfam helps families and friends find support near them. If someone has gone under, can’t be woken or is struggling to breathe, call 999. You can’t make the choice for them, and you deserve support of your own while they work it out.

Talk it through

If you’re already getting support and want help alongside it, book a £49 consultation call. It’s a chance to talk through the support you already have and whether sessions would add to it. I work one to one over Zoom, and you keep a recording of the hypnosis. My working with me page has the details.

Book a consultation (£49)

Written by Adam Cox, clinical hypnotherapist. Sources: Public Health England, substance misuse services for men involved in chemsex; FRANK, GHB; FRANK, poppers; FRANK, what to do in an emergency;56 Dean Street, what is chemsex; 56 Dean Street, GHB and GBL; LGBT Foundation, chemsex; NHS, HIV prevention; NHS, find a sexual health clinic. Checked October 2026.