Berlin's Shifting Chemsex Landscape: An Inside Look
Berlin, a vibrant city known for its nightlife, has seen a growing complexity in its drug landscape over the past decade. Chemsex, the intentional use of certain substances, often stimulants or sedatives, in sexual settings, has become a significant part of this scene.
For Noah, a resident of Berlin, his first encounter with chemsex introduced him to drugs like G and mephedrone, which he described as numbing after the initial fun. GBL, a sedative used to heighten arousal and relaxation, is the most precarious drug in Berlin's chemsex scene.
However, it's important to remember that engaging in chemsex is a personal choice, and it's crucial to do so consciously and with intention. As Christopher Clay, Chemkon organiser, emphasises, these conversations can't stay limited to conferences or clinics and need to happen in everyday spaces.
To engage in chemsex safely and reduce risks, several harm reduction and health strategies are essential. Using harm reduction supplies such as sterile needles, syringes, cookers, filters, water ampoules, acidifiers, alcohol swabs, and sharps bins can minimize infection risks, especially if injecting drugs. Access to naloxone for overdose prevention is also recommended.
Participating in open, stigma-free discussions about chemsex, consent, and harm reduction is another crucial step. These discussions are increasing in Berlin and help improve safety awareness and community support.
HIV prevention measures like PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which has been proven effective for HIV-negative individuals engaging in chemsex, should also be considered under medical supervision. Regular HIV tests and kidney function checks every three months are necessary for PrEP users.
Avoiding sharing needles or injection equipment and being aware of the polydrug effects, as combining substances can amplify sexual and health risks, is also advisable. Regular health screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are essential to detect infections early and receive timely treatment.
Non-profit organizations like sidekicks.berlin, SONAR, and Queer Mama focus on peer education, club partnerships, and digital resources to provide information on harm reduction and the risks of different practices.
In a chemsex scene where inhibitions fade and boundaries blur, what Berliners may need most is permission to pause, reflect, and decide what truly feels right - not just in the moment, but for the long run. Liam, a new resident of Berlin, found this permission in an online therapy group that focuses on chemsex and provides tools for more intentional engagement. The group is in Spanish, but several counselling centres in Berlin have accepting attitudes towards substance use and offer services in English.
While historically rooted in gay male communities, chemsex now spans identities, orientations, and social scenes. Stimulants like mephedrone, MDMA, monkey dust, crystal meth, and cocaine are commonly used in Berlin's chemsex scene.
It's essential to remember that you don't have to engage in chemsex to be liked or loved in Berlin. Chemsex can be fun, but it's crucial to approach it with awareness and intentionality. For those who choose to participate, the multifaceted approach of using sterile equipment, accessing HIV prevention tools like PrEP under medical supervision, practicing safer sex, avoiding sharing injectables, and seeking support in Berlin’s evolving harm reduction community can help mitigate health risks associated with the practice in the local context.
[1] European Drug Prevention Quality Standards: Harm Reduction Services. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.edpqs.eu/harm-reduction-services/ [2] PrEP Facts. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.prepfacts.eu/ [3] Checkpoint BLN. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.checkpoint-bln.de/ [4] European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-statistics-and-information/drugs-and-the-web/harm-reduction-on-the-web
- In the bustling city of Berlin, a growing discourse on mental health and lifestyle has expanded to include conversations about intentional drug use in sexual settings, encompassing topics like chemical health and wellness, as evidenced by the increasing number of peer education initiatives focusing on harm reduction strategies.
- To maintain one's physical and mental well-being amid Berlin's evolving drug landscape, it's important to approach chemsex with a conscious mindset, embracing a holistic lifestyle that includes seeking support from mental health resources, practicing safer sex, accessing HIV prevention tools under medical supervision, and minimizing health risks associated with the practice by utilizing harm reduction supplies.
