Chemsex culture has become widespread within the LGBTQ+ community, with stories breaking daily of the spread in diseases through sharing needles and assaults that take place once participants are under the influence.
To anyone involved, it can become quite isolating and self-care can take a back seat to getting the next hit. Here to combat the crisis are the Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum who are launching a monthly evening where individuals who are struggling can meet in a non-judgemental space to share their experiences.
All too often the conversation of self-care and health takes place in clinical environments that aren’t always a positive experience for individuals who are struggling. The Friday Night Club is a support group aimed at being a positive and uplifting experience of self-care and peer support. As a community, it is our responsibility to support members that are struggling, and Friday Night Club is a space where people can come together to provide encouragement and back each other in tough times.
The Friday Night Club ethos is that most of the world’s problems can be solved with a cup of tea and a chat. Their peer support is led by the participants themselves, and there’s no advice more valuable than that from someone who knows exactly what you’re going through. Experiences surrounding Chemsex can be very traumatic and are often difficult to share, but their non-judgmental approach provides a safe space in which to discuss their experiences. The event takes place on the last Friday of every month since pay weekend can often be a time users can be tempted to engage in chemsex.
You can keep up to date by following the Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum on Twitter (@lgbtwandsworth) and Facebook (Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Forum).
