...

human condition. You might not’ve heard about Chemsex, but it’s a growing epidemic that’s not only destroying lives, but which also tells us a lot about how we think, feel and talk about sex. So we went to the man who created the term ‘Chemsex’ in the first place – David Stuart of the world-renowned 56 Dean Street Clinic. He’s an epidemiologist, activist, former addict and drug-dealer who’s now invited by healthcare professionals from around the world to advise them on how to tackle Chemsex in their communities. So what is Chemsex? At first Andrea and Jon assumed it simply meant taking drugs in the context of sex, which would surely include alcohol, MDMA, or even psychedelics. But soon they discovered this isn’t what the label ‘Chemsex’ was coined to describe at all. Instead, it describes a specific, widespread and deeply disturbing phenomenon that involves addiction, hook-up culture, self-understanding, social prejudice, internalised homophobia and the profound isolation of modern life. In many ways, Chemsex vividly lays bare the hangups we all experience in relation to finding, having, and understanding sex. This episode certainly isn’t specifically or only about gay sex, drug use, or addiction. It’s about the fundamental psychology of sex; what it means to be vulnerable; and how we can allow ourselves to enjoy who we are and express that sexually with others. Dating apps (check out our episode on them) have played a major role in the spread of chems and Chemsex, but as with the apps themselves, they arguably reveal our problems rather than creating new ones. So why do people take drugs in the context of sex?