ReviewFrontiers in public health2025
Polydrug use during chemsex: single and intersecting sexual effects of commonly used drugs.
Review in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Chemsex and childhood trauma: evidence from a explorative matched case-control analysis.European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience · 2026Article
- Chemsex as a Diagnostic Challenge: Toward Recognition in ICD-12 and Integrated Treatment Approaches-A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Chemsex refers to the intentional use of psychoactive substances to enhance, explore, or alter sexual experiences. The use of geolocation apps, and its link with physical, psychological, and social harms for the individual as well as society has been described 'Polydrug use'-combining multiple substances to amplify or diversify effects-is frequently reported across these groups. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the sexual effects of substances commonly used in chemsex contexts. We introduce the Pharmacosex Wheel, a visual tool that categorizes drugs based on their pharmacological properties and their specific effects on sexual experience. Substances are grouped into seven classes: stimulants, empathogens, psychedelics, dissociatives, depressants, opioids, and cannabinoids. Each class is discussed in relation to its typical impact on sexual behavior, desire, sensation, and connection. To further illuminate the dynamics of polydrug use, we present a layered model that maps core and intersecting effects of combined substances. Core effects include stimulation (e.g., from stimulants), disinhibition (e.g., from depressants and dissociatives), and altered sensory perception (e.g., from empathogens, cannabinoids, and psychedelics). When substances with different core effects are combined, intersecting effects emerge-such as euphoria, empathy, or chill-which often result in rich and multifaceted sexual experiences. This model also incorporates user motivations, acknowledging that the choice of substances often aligns with specific desires or anticipated outcomes. Finally, we position the most commonly used substances within this framework, grouping them according to their chemical structure, pharmacological action, and the experiential reports of users. By approaching chemsex from a drug-positive perspective, without neglecting potential negative impacts, this article aims to foster a nuanced understanding of substance use in sexual contexts. Our goal is to support more informed research, destigmatize user experiences, and contribute to the development of tailored care within drug and sexual health services.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.