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Chemsex 18 rating

A hard-hitting and often graphic documentary about the 'chemsex' sub-scene in London’s gay community.

Documentary 2015 80 mins

Director: William Fairman and Max Gogarty

Overview

An unflinching documentary charting the recent rise of ‘chemsex’, a shorthand term made popular by gay men for the use of drugs (specifically crystal meth, GHB and mephedrone) in a sexual context. Often referring to group sex that can last several days, with one or more of the specified drugs used to free inhibition and enhance libido, the trend is argued to be fuelled by the growing use of online apps as a means of sexual hook ups.

We hear testimony from a host of men whose lives have been affected, from self-confessed ‘slammers’ to sexual health workers, each of whom talk candidly about the pleasures and perils associated with the scene. Much more than just a sensationalist exposé on a small portion of London’s gay community, this powerful and often graphic film offers a vital insight into a potent and potentially destructive issue.