"When we talk about chemsex-the use of substances like meth, GHB, or other drugs during sex-it's important to recognize how common it has become in the gay community. A recent meta-analysis found that about one in five men who have sex with men worldwide have engaged in chemsex, and nearly a quarter have practiced sexualized drug use more broadly (Georgiadis, 2025)."
"For many gay men, desire is one of the first parts of ourselves we're taught to fear. Early messages tell us that wanting intimacy, connection, or pleasure is wrong. That our bodies are somehow dangerous. That our attraction is a "sin," a pathology, or something to keep hidden. Over time, these messages teach us to turn away from our desire, to avoid it, or to try to manage it instead of letting it guide us."
About one in five men who have sex with men worldwide have engaged in chemsex, and nearly a quarter have practiced sexualized drug use more broadly. Chemsex involves substances such as meth and GHB used during sex and occurs across many gay communities rather than being fringe behavior. Many participants use substances to cope with long-standing shame around desire, attraction, and bodies. Early cultural messages teach fear and concealment of desire, framing attraction as sinful or pathological. Substances can blunt fear, lower inhibitions, and quiet shame, enabling risk-taking. Untangling desire from shame can enable connection, intimacy, and self-understanding.
Read at Psychology Today
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