Aired on Tuesday, March 11, the new ITVX documentary After the high: Chemsex, beyond the myths explores the impact that chemsex-related drugs have on members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Chemsex (or chemical sex) is a practice that involves the use of drugs to enhance sexual intercourse. While not exclusively, chemsex is prevalent among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Chemsex-related drugs include GHB/GBL, which is extremely easy to overdose on, and crystal meth, which can induce paranoia and psychosis.

The After the high: Chemsex, beyond the myths documentary is based on an ITV News investigation conducted by reporter Sam Leader, who dove into the issue and found that, despite the evidence of fatalities and hospitalisations, chemsex remains a phenomenon largely ignored by the UK government. Moreover, the investigation uncovered that chemsex-related drugs are not only used for sex but are also taken recreationally.

Healthcare professionals and non-profit organisations have called on the UK government to take action to improve education, prevention and intervention strategies to address chemsex. Despite this, she said that healthcare professionals and government officials are still unaware of the practice and its impact.

“I would call on society to start looking at addiction with a more sympathetic and understanding lens,” she commented. “The LGBTQ community have been somewhat stigmatised in that these drugs are used predominantly by men who have sex with men. But actually, as a society, we’re all prone to using a substance, even alcohol, to have sex with.”

Marc Svensson, a social psychologist and founder of community organisation You are Loved, said: “You could refer to this as a kind of a silent crisis or epidemic…it’s happening, we know that it’s happening.”

“The underlying factors in my […] professional opinion, have to do with stigma, discrimination, loneliness, shame, factors that influence our community. By all means. It influences the general population to a certain extent, but perhaps our community disproportionately.”

In Ireland, activists have highlighted how, although official data is lacking, chemsex is on the rise in the country. Despite this and calls for increased outreach work and support, little has been done to address the phenomenon due to secrecy and stigma.

You can watch After the high: Chemsex, beyond the myths on ITVX.