Chemsex users are three times more likely to say their drug use is harming them, new London survey finds

A major new survey of LGBTQ+ people in London has found that those using drugs commonly associated with chemsex are almost three times more likely to view their drug use as harmful than people using other recreational substances.

The report, Drug Use, Chemsex and Harm in London's LGBTQ+ Community: A Community-Led Evidence Report (2026), surveyed 1,156 LGBTQ+ people and found that nearly half of respondents using crystal meth, GHB/GBL or mephedrone reported concerns about their drug use.

Produced by You Are Loved CIC, the study found that 46% of people using one or more of the three substances described their use as concerning to some degree. Of those, 21% said it was slightly concerning, 13% described it as problematic and 12% said it was a major problem. By comparison, just 17% of respondents using other recreational drugs reported similar concerns.

Researchers also found that only 19% of people using the three drugs viewed their drug use as generally positive.

The findings come nine months after the Office for National Statistics reported that LGB+ people in England and Wales are 2.8 times more likely to die from drug poisoning than their heterosexual counterparts, although no breakdown by substance was provided.

Different drugs, different risks

The report argues that crystal meth, GHB/GBL and mephedrone are often grouped together under the umbrella of chemsex, despite presenting distinct patterns of use and different risks.

Crystal meth was associated with the highest levels of self-reported harm. Nearly 60% of users expressed concern about their drug use, while one in five described it as a major problem. Although strongly linked to sexualised settings such as sex parties and chillouts, more than two in five users said they also consumed the drug alone at home, a pattern the report identifies as a potential warning sign of problematic use.

GHB/GBL users also reported significant concerns, with half saying they were worried about their drug use. The report highlights overdose as the primary risk associated with the drug, noting that the difference between a recreational dose and one that causes unconsciousness can be extremely small.

Mephedrone, meanwhile, was found to have the broadest social reach. While commonly used in sexualised environments, it was also frequently used in clubs, bars and social gatherings. Although it had the lowest reported harm profile of the three substances, 44% of users still expressed concerns about their use.

The report concludes that public health campaigns and support services risk missing key issues if they treat all three drugs as interchangeable.

GHB/GBL overdoses becoming normalised

One of the report's most striking findings concerns GHB/GBL. Two-thirds of users said they had passed out or fallen asleep involuntarily while taking the drug.

Researchers describe every such incident as an overdose and warn that repeated exposure to these episodes may be leading to their normalisation within some social circles.

The report suggests that when unconsciousness becomes commonplace, it can cease to be treated as a medical emergency, increasing the risk that individuals do not receive timely assistance.

One-third reject the term 'chemsex'

The survey also found that a significant proportion of people using the three substances do not identify with the term "chemsex".

While around a third of respondents said they would always use the term to describe their experiences, a further third said they would only sometimes do so. Almost 31% said they would not use the label at all despite taking one or more of the drugs most commonly associated with chemsex.

Researchers found that people who identified with the term were generally more likely to report problematic or intensive drug use. Those experiencing greater levels of harm were also far more likely to describe their behaviour as chemsex than those who viewed their use as non-problematic.

The report argues that the word functions not only as a description of behaviour but also as a label people increasingly adopt when they begin to recognise their drug use as harmful.

As a result, researchers warn that services and awareness campaigns relying heavily on the term may fail to reach a substantial number of people whose experiences fall within conventional definitions of chemsex but who do not identify with the label.

Bereavement and the lasting impact of Covid

The survey also highlights the wider impact of drug-related harm within London's LGBTQ+ community.

More than a quarter of respondents said they had lost at least one loved one to a drug-related death within the past five years. In the south London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, that figure rose to one in three.

Researchers also found evidence that the Covid-19 pandemic had a lasting impact on drug use patterns. More than a third of respondents said their drug use had increased during or since the pandemic, compared with just 11% who reported a decrease. Among users of crystal meth, GHB/GBL or mephedrone, the increase rose to 41%.

The report warns that prevention strategies and commissioning decisions based on pre-pandemic assumptions may no longer reflect current levels of need.

Calls for more tailored support

Half of those surveyed said there was not enough support available for LGBTQ+ people struggling with drug use, while only 15% felt current provision was sufficient.

Marc Svensson, founder and director of You Are Loved CIC, said the findings demonstrate the need for a more nuanced approach to support services. "The people in this survey are telling us something quite simple: these drugs aren't interchangeable, and GHB/GBL and crystal meth are hurting them most."A third of them are also telling us that chemsex isn't a word they use about themselves. We must listen to both of those things when we design support."

A summary of the findings relating to Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham is expected to inform an ongoing chemsex needs assessment being carried out across the three boroughs.