From GHB/GBL overdoses to the stigma stopping people from seeking help, new research from You Are Loved paints a troubling picture of drug-related harm in our community, and makes a powerful case for doing things differently.
It’s a conversation our community can’t afford to shy away from.
A major new survey of 1,156 LGBTQ+ people who had used recreational drugs in the previous 12 months has revealed concerning levels of drug-related harm, with almost half of respondents using substances commonly associated with chemsex expressing concerns about their own drug use.
The research, published by LGBTQ+ community organisation You Are Loved CIC , examines the experiences of people using crystal meth, GHB/GBL and mephedrone, three drugs frequently associated with chemsex.
Of the 560 respondents who reported using at least one of these substances, 46% expressed some degree of concern about their drug use, compared with 17% of those using other recreational drugs but none of the three.
But the findings go much further than that. They reveal how overdoses are becoming normalised, why the word ‘chemsex’ itself may be preventing support services from reaching people, and the devastating impact drug-related deaths are having on our community.
When passing out becomes ‘normal’
Perhaps one of the most alarming findings concerns GHB/GBL.
Two-thirds of respondents who use the substance reported having passed out or fallen asleep involuntarily while taking it. The report classifies these episodes as overdoses and warns that their frequency has led to a dangerous level of normalisation.
Rather than recognising someone losing consciousness as a medical emergency, friends may assume they’ll simply sleep it off.
The consequences can be devastating.
GHB/GBL carries a particularly high overdose risk because the difference between an active dose and one that causes unconsciousness can be very small. Combining it with alcohol increases the danger.
If someone collapses or loses consciousness while using GHB/GBL, call 999. If they’re breathing normally, place them in the recovery position and stay with them until help arrives.
Not all drugs, or experiences, are the same
The research also challenges the tendency to treat all three drugs associated with chemsex as though they carry identical risks.
Among respondents using crystal meth, almost 60% expressed concern about their drug use, with one in five describing it as a big problem.
Although crystal meth use was predominantly reported in sexual settings, 41% of users also said they took it alone at home, something the report identifies as a potentially significant warning sign.
Mephedrone, meanwhile, was associated with a much broader range of social settings. Alongside sex parties and chillouts, 69% of users reported taking it in clubs, while 35% used it in bars.
Although mephedrone had the lowest reported harm profile of the three substances, 44% of people using it still expressed some concern about their drug use.
The message from the researchers is that effective education and support must recognise these differences rather than treating every substance, and every person’s relationship with it, in exactly the same way.
A third of users don’t identify with the word ‘chemsex’
Here’s where the research gets particularly interesting.
Almost a third of respondents using at least one of the three drugs said they wouldn’t describe their behaviour as chemsex at all.
The term was more commonly used by people who reported more intensive drug use or greater concern about its impact.
Among respondents who described their drug use as a big problem, 70% said they would always call it chemsex. That fell to just 22% among those who didn’t consider their drug use problematic.
Why does this matter?
Because if an organisation advertises a chemsex support service, someone who doesn’t identify with that word might assume the service isn’t for them, even if they’re experiencing precisely the difficulties it could help with.
The report recommends that services talk more directly about people’s experiences, behaviours and concerns rather than relying on a single label to reach everyone.
Stigma presents another obstacle. Respondents described fears of being judged by healthcare services, partners and other members of the LGBTQ+ community.
For people already worried about their drug use, that fear can make asking for help even harder.
More than a quarter have lost someone to drugs
Beyond individual experiences of drug use, the research reveals the wider impact on friends, partners and chosen families.
Some 28% of all survey respondents said they had lost at least one loved one to a drug-related death in the previous five years.
Among respondents living in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, that figure rose to 33%.
The research also suggests that the effects of the Covid pandemic on drug use have persisted.
More than a third of respondents, 35%, reported that their drug use had increased during or since the pandemic and lockdowns, compared with 11% who reported a decrease.
Among those using the three drugs associated with chemsex, 41% reported an increase.
The report warns that support services planned around pre-pandemic assumptions may be underestimating the level of help now needed.
Support shouldn’t have to wait until crisis point
Despite the concerns raised throughout the survey, accessing help appears to be something many people put off.
Among respondents using the three drugs, 86% of those who considered their use a big problem had sought support.
But among those who described their use as only slightly concerning, just 22% had done so.
Half of all respondents felt there wasn’t enough support available for people in the LGBTQ+ community struggling with drug use, while only 15% believed current provision was sufficient.
Marc Svensson, founder and director of You Are Loved CIC, said:
“The people in this survey are telling us something quite simple: these drugs aren’t interchangeable, and GHB/GBL and crystal meth are hurting them most. A third of them are also telling us that chemsex isn’t a word they use about themselves. We must listen to both of those things when we design support.”
The findings are already feeding into a chemsex needs assessment being undertaken by Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.
The research comes with an important qualification. Participants volunteered to complete the online survey, and the sample was predominantly white, cisgender gay men. The results therefore reflect the experiences of those surveyed and shouldn’t be taken as representative of every LGBTQ+ person in London.
Still, the experiences shared by more than a thousand members of our community deserve attention.
And perhaps the most important takeaway is this: people shouldn’t have to reach breaking point before they feel comfortable asking for help.
Creating a community where we can talk openly about drugs, sex, pleasure and harm, without shame or judgement, is a pretty good place to start.
Read the report and find support
The full report, Drug Use, Chemsex and Harm in London’s LGBTQ+ Community: A Community-Led Evidence Report (2026), is available through You Are Loved CIC .
If you’re concerned about your own drug use or that of someone you care about, free, confidential and non-judgemental support is available.
Antidote offers specialist LGBTQ+ drug, alcohol and chemsex support, whether you want to stop, cut down or get advice about reducing harm.
Controlling Chemsex offers free, confidential online support, including one-to-one sessions with specialist advisers.
Photo Credit: Sushil Nash
