Jessica F. Simmons

WEST HOLLYWOOD, LA – On Wednesday evening, dozens attended a health forum to learn more about a trend prevalent in Los Angeles County, “chemsex.” Chemsex, sometimes referred to as “party and play” or “wired play,” involves using drugs to enhance or facilitate high-risk sexual activities such as unprotected sex and multiple partners.

The City of West Hollywood-sponsored event, hosted by OUT HERE Sexual Health Services (APLA Health),  a sexual health clinic, focused on LGBTQ+ safety and featured panelist experiences, fentanyl testing strips, NARCAN, and safe sex goodie bags for participants.

The most used drug for chemsex is considered methamphetamine. Other substances can include cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, mephedrone or alkyl nitrates (poppers).

LAC Coroner data shows that methamphetamine overdose deaths reached 1,882 in 2022, marking a 9% rise from the previous year and a 458% increase over the past decade.

On a slide showing the spectrum of drug use, panelist Timothy Zembek, harm reduction program manager at Being Alive, a harm reduction center, said drug use can range from no use, experimental, social, regular use, ritual, daily to chaotic or persistent. 

“And the thing about drug use in all of its forms is that I can be at the social end with one drug and at the chaotic end with another drug,” said Zembek, pointing at the continuum. “It’s not necessarily left or right. I can go back and forth, or I can skip steps.”

According to a 2022 community needs assessment by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, an average of 77.0% of residents who use methamphetamine reported that methamphetamine was easy for them to obtain.

During his presentation, Zembek asked the audience why people use drugs during sex. Responses included enjoyment, increased feelings of connection, and the ability to try new things like fetishes or bottoming.

On popular dating apps such as Grindr, Scruff and Adam4Adam, many use encrypted messages to initiate such as “PNP”, “Let’s get to the poinT,” or diamond and cloud emojis, Zembek said.

Panelist Fatima M. Shabazz, sex worker and activist in DecrimSexWorkCA, a coalition of sex workers, said there are several tiers when it comes to chemsex.

She described the first tier as enjoying the influence, the second as reducing self-consciousness, and the third as becoming more open-minded but also facing increased risk of sexual diseases and physical, emotional, and psychological harm. 

In the same 2022 community needs assessment, findings show that among methamphetamine users, common harms included addiction (61.9%), mental health distress (51.4%), relationship issues (46.8%), and aggressive behavior (42.6%).

Shabazz continued with the final tier after the drugs had run its course. 

“…When you’re sober and you’re sitting around wondering about what took place the night before, afternoon before or the day before–if you can actually remember it,” Shabazz said. “Now you have this whole guilt thing going on like, ‘Wow, why did I do that?’ ‘Did I do that?’ ‘How many people were involved?’ and ‘Oh, shit. Should I get tested?’”

She said from experience, she learned how important it is to be aware of her surroundings and set boundaries to keep herself and others safe. 

One way to keep others safe and encourage harm prevention, Zembek said, is to keep track of “bad date lists,” community-sourced lists of individuals known for engaging in harmful or abusive behavior towards sex workers. 

An audience member from the LA Community Health Project, an initiative to improve public health, asked if there is a centralized website or list for sharing bad experiences or obtaining information for street-based sex workers. 

The audience member said after surveying the workers, many expressed challenges in finding reliable resources within their community.

Zembek said he hasn’t created a bad dates list due to a lack of sex workers in his organization but recommended contacting Soma Snakeoil, dominatrix and co-founder of The Sidewalk Project.

TSP is a harm reduction nonprofit organization that aids the unhoused, drug users and sex workers in the community. Snakeoil, who was scheduled to be a panelist, was unable to attend the forum due to a family emergency.

IAMFAITH, forum attendee who has engaged in chemsex activities, said he came to the event with an open mind after hearing about it from the organizations. 

He said while he enjoyed the event, he noticed the lack of people from the current generation, who are also experiencing chemsex, in the room.

“They’re having these experiences by themselves and are with other people that they think that they trust,” said the 39-year-old. “We have to be strategic about helping our community.” 

A way to bring in the younger generation to more events like these, he said, is by having increased incentives to have these harder conversations.

“Because the future of our generations is at stake,” IAMFAITH said. “And the longevity of our generation is at stake. And I just think it’s important to just continue to educate, and constantly come from a place of empathy and understanding from all views to the best of our abilities.”