Pierre Palmade case: what is chemsex? We will explain everything to you

Definition, history: what is chemsex?

As the reporter explains Mathias Chaillot in a Twitter thread very instructive, chemsex (pronounced kemsex) is not a drug, but a behavior:

This word, from contraction of “chemist”for chemicals, e “sex”refers to the practice of having sexual intercourse under the influence of various drugs and psychoactive substances. Historically, as Mathias Chaillot explains, this behavior is associated with the gay community, which places chemsex in a history of practices “MSM specific” (men who have sex with men). This is what makes the definition of chemsex go far beyond simply having sex on drugs, a behavior that even heterosexual people indulge in, without equating it to chemsex.

What is the purpose of chemsex?

The objective of chemsex is to resort to the intake of psychoactive substances to facilitate and prolong, among other things, sexual relations with two or more people. More or less intense effects that vary according to the drugs consumed by people who practice chemsex.

However the main effect sought is disinhibitionthus facilitating sexual attraction but also self-confidence, empathy and resistance.

3-MMC, poppers, cocaine… which drugs are associated with chemsex?

While cocaine, known to stimulate sexual desire, was notably mentioned in the Pierre Palmade affair, many other drugs with various effects can be used in the context of chemsex.

This is the case with the ketamine, which causes, among other things, hallucinations. THE amphetaminesalso regularly associated with chemsex, they have a “power” of disinhibition which makes it a drug consumed regularly. THE poppers is himself known for its vasodilator propertieswhich can be experienced as stimulating. They it dilates blood vessels, increases heart rate and lowers blood pressure, thereby increasing sexual arousal, among others. Other drugs are also associated with chemsex, such as GHB/GBL, nicknamed “the rape drug” or even the cathinones, such as 3-MMCa euphoric substance that increases libido.

Chemsex, a dangerous practice with serious consequences

The practice of chemsex carries health risks. Most of these psychoactive substances can cause many serious health problems: GHB overdose can for example cause unconsciousness. Cocaine, as well as methamphetamine and cathinones (such as 3-MMC) can cause cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory problems, panic attacks or suicidal ideation.

More globally, taking drugs can lead to an overdose and cause death of the person consuming it, as happened last September, when a man died as a result of consuming 3-MMC during sexual intercourse.

Addicted to chemsex, how to quit?

Finally, one of the consequences of the practice of chemsex, no less serious, is addiction. Also known as “longing”addiction is characterized by an intense need to consume drugs, a symptom of drug addiction. But it is possible to get out of it, with help.

Pierre Palmade case: what is the connection with chemsex?

The term chemsex appeared in one of the media on February 10, in the context of the tragic car accident involving the actor Pierre Palmade. The relationship between this practice and the actor? She, the latter, would in fact have let herself go to chemsex with a group of other people, the twenty-four hours preceding the accident. However, as stated in FM TV Deputy Mayor of Paris Jean-Luc Romero, we must not criminalize a sexual practice, which is in no way responsible for the incident in question in the Palmade affair. “It’s not because of chemsex that Pierre Palmade had an accident, it’s because he took a product and drove” he says. The latter also underlines the fact that there is no relationship between sex and the accident: “In chemsex, it’s not people who kill other people, it’s people who can die from it, and unfortunately my husband was a victim of that,” hammer.