An online study to understand chemsex in India.
Indian journal of psychiatry May 1, 2025 Varsha Sriperambudoori, Siddharth Sarkar, Anju Dhawan 4 citations
An online survey of 136 Indian adults (75.7% male, 44.1% homosexual) found that 33.8% had engaged in chemsex—using substances to initiate, facilitate, improve, or prolong sexual experiences, excluding alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis. Methamphetamine ("Meth," "Yaba," or "Ice") was the most common substance, followed by MDMA, poppers, and cocaine. Among those reporting chemsex, 45.7% also engaged in slamsex (injection drug use during sex). About two-thirds said their partners also used drugs. The primary motivation was enhancing sexual pleasure. Adverse effects included memory gaps and fear or anxiety. Chemsex was more common among participants with more sexual partners, group sex, HIV-positive status, STIs, or PrEP use. The findings suggest risk mitigation strategies may be needed for this population.