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Chemsex in Asia
Chemsex amongst MSM in Asia is a growing phenomenon. Yet responses to its potential harms face challenges due to the lack of effective and scaled intervention.
Chemsex refers to the use of drugs in a sexual setting. But, while many different people use various types of drugs before or during sex, the term chemsex is reserved for male-to-male sex and sexual sessions that may involve multiple partners. Most experts exclude ‘mild’ drugs from the definition of chemsex and instead focus on those drugs that induce a distinct sexual pleasure, desire or disinhibition. They are meth-amphetamine, mephedrone and GHB/GBL. Out of these three drugs, meth-amphetamine is most commonly used in the Asian chemsex scene, often in combination with drugs that are used to treat erectile dysfunction.
A Community Manual on sexualised substance use among men who have sex with men
Researchers Laura Nevendorff (Indonesia), Theresia Puspoarum (Indonesia) and Doan Thanh Tung (Vietnam) created a comprehensive manual on chemsex in Asia. It offers practical tools for community-based organisations across Asia, allowing them to respond to the specific needs of men who engage in chemsex. The manual was developed as part of the Asia Catalyst programme, with support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
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