The vast majority of gay and bisexual men do not use illicit drugs. But over the last decade growing numbers of us have been getting into serious trouble with three relatively new substances: crystal meth, mephedrone and GHB, which is the subject of a documentary film out next month called Chemsex.
A few years ago when David Stuart, then working at the only LGBT drugs and alcohol service Antidote (run by London Friend), told me they were seeing growing numbers of men getting into serious trouble, many of them injecting, I thought he was exaggerating. It is understandably hard to accept. Even today lots of people don’t believe it. There is aggressive denial from online gay bloggers who have zero experience whatsoever of what is happening (lucky them) but do have very loud, self-important voices. They say they are combatting hysteria and have criticised David Stuart, now at sexual health clinic 56 Dean St (the subject of the Chemsex film), who has brought this issue to the fore, accusing him of trying to create a job for himself. They have criticised plays about the subject and the media – mainstream and gay – accusing us of sensationalising the issue. But reporting is not the same as sensationalising. The Guardian and Independent have been calm, sober and non-judgemental. In fact, the only hysteria I’ve seen comes from those denying there is a problem. They have discussed ‘chemsex’ far more than anyone else in the media.