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DRUGS AND SEX: WELL-BEING AND HEALTH IN THE SWINGERS SCENE

Drug use during sex can give people pleasure. However, there are situations in which risks may arise. Mainline sees this, among other things, in chemsex – a scene where men who have sex with men use drugs during sex. But we know far less about the potential drug-related risk behaviours in the swingers scene. In the coming year, Mainline will make an extra effort to better understand drug use in the swingers scene. And to promote the health and well-being of people in this community. 

Why this is important 

In the swingers scene, couples and singles, among others, are active. People experiment with sex with multiple partners in various ways: in clubs, through online networks, between befriended couples or at larger, sex-positive parties. Research shows that drug use occurs among swingers, from GHB and ecstasy to erection stimulants. Although use does not cause problems for the majority of people, the risk of transgressive behaviour, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and mental health problems can increase when under the influence of drugs. Under influence, boundaries blur and consent can become unclear. At the same time, the swingers scene remains largely hidden from health professionals, which makes it difficult to provide targeted support where it is needed. 

Our mission: more insight, better support 

Mainline has years of experience with drug use in sexual settings, such as in the chemsex scene. Now we want to delve into the swinger scene. Our goal is to: 

  • Gain insight into drug use and risk behaviour within this scene. 
  • Pay specific attention to women in the swingers scene, including their health and need for information and care. 
  • Building bridges between subgroups, such as bisexual men who are active in both the chemsex and swingers scenes. 
  • Designing materials and interventions that meet the needs of swingers. 

How do we tackle this?

We combine fieldwork with literature research and listen to the stories of people in the scene. This allows us to learn what is going on and discover whether there is a need for targeted information or support. Our approach includes: 

  • Updating previous research on swingers and risk behaviour. 
  • Developing information and education material that directly connects with the target group. 
  • Recommending concrete interventions to promote health and well-being among swingers. 

Contact 

Would you like to know more about our work or contribute to this project? Please contact us at m.busz@mainline.nl

Financial 

ViiV Healthcare 

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