Chemsex support

During this ongoing period of (COVID) social distancing, the chemsex support and walk-in services remain closed.

If you are concerned about your use or your support needs, there are a number of ways in which we can support you: choose the option that suits you best.

1. “I think I‘ll be fine until the walk-in clinics re-open”.

That’s great. Email us if that changes, or see more online support from us here, like videos, online tools and harm reduction tips. Click here to visit our chemsex information and harm reduction pages.

2. “I have good control over my cravings & compulsions to use chems”.

Good; do you want to stay in touch with us weekly to be sure? Here is an invitation to commit to a contract of weekly ‘commitment’ emails. 5 minutes, 1 weekly email. Click here to begin this process.

3. “I have very poor control over my cravings & compulsions to use chems”.

Ok. We want to help. This option is a robust ‘Motivational Interviewing’ method template that helps you identify a goal and gives you skills to achieve it; it’s designed to help you feel more in control of your use and your choices. Approximately 15 to 20 minutes, 1 weekly email.  Click here to begin this process.

4. “I’m really concerned; I might need more support than weekly emails.”

No problem; we have a plan for that too. Click here to begin this process.

5. “I’m not sure if I need to (or want to) make any changes”.

Cool. No pressure, it’s your choice, your goals. These questions here might help you reflect on that, and you can contact us if or when you feel ready. Click here if you’d like to try a reflective exercise that can help you weigh the pros and cons of making changes. Please note our Chemsex tool is under construction so you are being linked to a partner website. 

Please message david.stuart@nhs.net to discuss your needs and options

(Note; emails are a less secure means of communication than SMS/text fax and Royal Mail. Our NHS Trust cannot guarantee that messages won’t be intercepted after they have left our server. But if you consent to email correspondence, we are pleased to provide this support.)

Note for health professionals, referring patients to chemsex support; 

we accept referrals for gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (including trans people) who are using drugs in sexual and recreational contexts only. If the person’s use is more problematic, if there is dependent/daily use, or drug use associated with complex mental health issues, the correct referral would be to the patient’s local borough drug and alcohol service.

• If you are seeking harm reduction information, please visit our chemsex support help & advice page
• Online interactive chemsex support is available on our website; it includes an invitation to choose and work toward a goal, and the tools/skills to help you achieve that goal. Click here .
• If compulsive app use is part of the problem, feels beyond your control, or if you need some support in limiting the time you spend on Apps, check out our help & advice article on mindful use of sex apps. 
• Clean/unused needles can be obtained for free at most Boots pharmacies, and Watsons pharmacy at the Soho medical centre; they can also be purchased and delivered relatively cheaply online.

We remind people that our chems support staff are not trained, equipped or able to provide crisis response. There are some emergency contacts below.

We are grateful for your support with these measures as 56 Dean Street focus on emergency sexual health care during the urgent social distancing measures. Please trust that we will continue to support you with your chemsex support needs as best we can during this time.

CRISIS/EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• If you don’t feel you can keep yourself safe right now, seek immediate help:
• Go to any Accident & Emergency (A&E) department.
• Call 999 and ask for an ambulance to take you to A&E.
• Ask someone else to call 999 for you or take you to A&E.
• Call the London Met police; dial 101

If you need urgent support but don’t want to go to A&E, you could:

• Call Samaritans on 24 hour freephone 116 123 – they’re always open and are there to listen. The Central London Samaritans welcome walk-ins (46 Marshall Street London W1F 9BF) are; 9:00am – 9:00pm every day – no appointment necessary. (Call first to check their COVID-19 infection prevention measures; 0330 094 5717)
• GALOP offer LGBT specific information, support on violence, sexual violence, domestic violence or hate-crime; if it’s something you don’t feel ready to call the police about, they can confidentially advise; 020 7704 2040. London LGBT+ Advice Line
• Contact your GP surgery and ask for an emergency appointment
• Contact NHS 111 (England)