An unprecedented study was presented on Wednesday at the Paris City Hall on the phenomenon of Chemsex.
This practice combines sex with heavy drug use.
According to this study, Chemsex is spreading more and more through all strata of society and does not respond to the usual channels of risky practices.
Which makes prevention and information difficult.
The city of Paris has announced the establishment of a plan and a strategic committee to inform about the dangers of Chemsex.
Chemsex is gaining ground and reaching a growing population. This is what emerges from a study, presented this Wednesday at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris. Behind this portmanteau ("chemicals" for chemical products in English and "sex"), hides a practice which consists in consuming psychotropic or synthetic drugs to intensify and prolong sexual intercourse. According to the Sea, Sex and Chems study, it is growing to the point of becoming a worrying phenomenon for authorities and health services.
If Paris is trying to take the subject in hand, it is because it is "a historic city of Chemsex", according to Jean-Luc Romero-Michel, assistant to Anne Hidalgo and longtime activist. Initially seen as a practice reserved for men who have sex with men (MSM), it has spread in recent years in "all parts of the population, regardless of the sexual orientation or gender of the people concerned", explains Dorian. Cessa, doctor and principal coordinator of the study. The phenomenon would have, moreover, multiplied with the confinements, which broke the usual codes. "And the products used are available in two clicks on the Internet for ridiculous prices", adds Jean-Luc Romero-Michel. "The dissemination of some of its drugs,including 3MMC ”has been“ significantly increased since the start of the COVID-19 epidemic, ”says Dorian Cessa.
A phenomenon difficult to grasp with dramatic consequences
For the moment, no figure on the number of practitioners emerges as the phenomenon is so difficult to grasp.
To give an idea of the possible expansion of Chemsex, Dorian Cessa quotes a previous English study which showed that of the 500,000 users of the Grindr application (dating site between men), "between 25 and 30% of registered" declared s 'indulge in it.
An impressive figure, especially since the Sea, Sex, and Chems study shows that heterosexuals are still more numerous to practice Chemsex and that women, mostly heterosexual too, now represent 25% of practitioners in France.
This gives an idea of the extent of the phenomenon.
And he has something to worry about in view of the risks involved. While many cases of comas and deaths have already been reported, the study shows that Chemsex leads to different addictions, whether to products or to sex. In addition, it alters vigilance against sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
If he specifies that the phenomenon affects all layers of society, "including many CSP +", Dorian Cessa identifies certain audiences at risk in the face of Chemsex.
Fragile populations, such as those who have experienced sex monetization, sexual violence or HIV infection are more likely to enter this practice.
Just as those who have experienced an early entry into sexuality, sexual dysfunction or a non-binarity are particularly exposed to addiction to the products consumed.
And behavioral sex addiction particularly affects people who target sexual performance, "very common among MSM, and app users," he comments.
The city of Paris is implementing an information and risk reduction plan
To fight against this "scourge", the city of Paris has announced the establishment of an information and risk reduction plan for Chemsex which should coordinate the actions of health authorities, associations and the police.
"Professionals are taken aback by this phenomenon", explains Anne Souyris, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of health and at the initiative of the plan.
After announcing the creation of a strategic committee "in the coming weeks", the elected representative insisted on the need to communicate with the different parties and on the widest possible dissemination of information on the subject.
And Jean-Luc Romero-Michel concludes: “We must absolutely avoid stigmatization and moralization, these are the worst enemies of prevention.
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20 seconds of context
The Sea, Sex and Chems study was carried out from March to June 2021, on 2,767 people including 1,196 who had already practiced Chemsex by the Croix-Rousse addictology center and the queer collective Plus belle la nuit and approved by the ethics committee of the University of Aix-Marseille.
Society
Addiction
Internet
Sex
Drug
Paris
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