Until a few years ago the ITV morning show in the UK was called ‘Good Morning Television’ or GMTV. The franchise replaced the rather mad world of TV-AM which foisted Roland the Rat and Kevin the Gerbil on an unsuspecting world from behind the safety of its giant eggcups that adorned the studios in Camden, North London.
‘GMTV’ has however taken on a new meaning as it can form part of a coded message on mobile phone texts and social messaging apps relating to ‘Chemsex’ use. The term Chemsex is commonly used by MSM (Men who have sex with men) on networking sites and smartphone apps. Chemsex is NOT the same as recreational drug use, but is a specific form of it where specific drugs (‘chems’) are used in a sexual context.
If we are to break down the letters of ‘GMTV’ then we can see that each one refers to a different drug that may be available to use at an arranged party. This is usually denoted by the letter being picked out in upper-case. The ‘G’ stands for the drug GHB, the ‘M’ for Mephedrone, the ‘T’ for Tina (slang for Crystal Meth) and the ‘V’ for Viagra. People who take part in Chemsex parties may end up using one or more of these drugs. Different combinations may allow a mix of alertness, euphoria and basic sexual horniness that encourages the sex party to go on for several days. The use of the oldest social (and sexual) lubricant, alcohol, is nearly always also part the mix. This seems to be rarely noted by anyone.
Let’s take each of them in turn. Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) occurs naturally in such diverse products as beef and smaller citrus fruits. It also turns up in some beers and wines as a result of the fermentation process. Chemical analysis of GHB was first achieved back in the 19th Century and was subsequently utilised for a range of ailments including narcolepsy, chronic alcohol dependency and even as an anaesthetic during childbirth.
GHB has been classified as an illegal drug in most countries for at least a decade although some particular forms of the drug can slip through the legal net. One example of this is the liquid GBL, often sold as an alloy wheel cleaner (for that perfect showroom look). As it can be used in this way and is also a part of many manufacturing processes it remains legal in many countries. GBL only metabolises into GHB when in a human stomach, leading the user to feel a sense of euphoria, dis-inhibition and enhanced sexual urges. As it acts as a central nervous depressant the user can also feel very groggy or sleepy afterwards with significant short-term memory loss. For this reason the drug first gained notoriety as a ‘date-rape’ drug where it was used in a similar way to Rohypnol (Flunitrazepam). In this form it may be known by a variety of slang term including ‘Liquid E’ although it bears no chemical relationship to Ecstasy (MDMA).
The risk of overdose from the use of GHB is significant, with cardio-respiratory arrest being the most likely effect. This can be accentuated when GHB is combined with alcohol as it reduces the rate at which the body can eliminate alcohol from its system. Those who use it more frequently may experience severe symptoms if they are undergoing withdrawal, including acute delirium that may require a stay in an intensive care unit.
Moving onto Mephedrone, we can note there was a re-discovery’ of the drug in 2003 (it was originally synthesised in the 1920’s).Mephadrone was one of the main drivers behind the appearance of ‘Headshops’ in many places around Europe. At their peak, before new legislation was enacted, there were over 100 such shops trading in Ireland and many more outlets online. Since the use of Mephedrone was criminalised the quality of the drug soon dropped, the price increased as the control of its supply passed to criminal gangs.
The press usually refer to the drug by one of its supposed slang names such as ‘miow-miow’, a play on is similarity to the mild African stimulant Khat. Whilst it was known in headshop times to be a relatively safe drug prized for inducing an ‘ecstasy-like’ effect allied to sexual desire, the variable composition of the product means it is all but impossible for user to know what they are purchasing.
Crystal meth (or Methamphetamine) has arguably been the drug most associated with the ‘Party’n’play’ culture within gay communities in the United States. Meth’s ability to create strong urges and at the same time have an inhibitory effect on ejaculation has long been of use to performers in the adult film industry. Those who use it at Chemsex parties often suffer a particularly strong comedown afterwards resulting in hypersomia, or excessive daytime sleeping. The risk of overdose is also present, as is an increased risk of HIV transmission through unprotected sex or the sharing of needles.
The last drug that we can also add to the mix is Viagra. Interestingly it was originally developed in the fight against high blood pressure, but the clinical trials held in Swansea, Wales produced some rather unexpected results. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer realised they had a massive money-spinner on their hands. Despite the appearance of competitors it retains a very high level of brand recognition as the market leader aimed at treating erectile dysfunction issues. Despite a complete lack of evidence, the belief that it increases libido, improves sexual performance and even permanently increases penis size continues to drive sales.
The cultural phenomenon of chemsex seems to be largely culturally determined according to experts who gathered at the 1st European Chemsex forum in London. Cities with a vibrant LGBT social scene report higher levels of activity. Such cities have typically seen many gay-orientated pubs and nightspots close down in recent years as the ‘scene’ moves towards more private venues such as saunas or private houses. Alongside this there has been an increase in the use of ‘apps’ that facilitate social and more specifically sexual interaction within the MSM community. ‘Gaydar’ was the first app in this area to gain popularity, but others often catering to more niche tastes have also appeared.
Even if only a small subset of gay men make a decision to take part in Chemsex some participants will have issues with drug use, others with later dependency issues. Some will have sexual health issues that require medical attention whist others may encounter mental health issues following Chemsex use.
This in turn means that both sexual health and drug support organisations will need to be more aware of the issues involved in Chemsex and adapt their services accordingly. Chemsex users generally report feeling more comfortable speaking about drug use when using sexual health support services. They tend not to classify themselves as ‘drug users’. In addition drug support services may not have the ‘cultural competence’ to support issues surrounding Chemsex and the LGBT community in general.
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Western Region Drug and Alcohol Task Force,
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Tel: 091 48 00 44 Email: info@wrdatf.ie
