A recent survey conducted by Squirt.org found that 30% of respondents had engaged in chemsex, with an additional 39% saying they could consider it. Now, a U.K.-based health organization is doing its part to at least make sure those 30% of PnPers don’t die as a result of their addictions.
The Gay Man’s Collective is volunteer-led organization based in the U.K. that aims to promote sexual health, well-being, and harm reduction among gay and bisexual men.
To achieve this, the organization is selling PnP survival kits, called PIP PACs, in an effort to promote “safer” chemsex.
Related: Man shocked when gay celebrity shows up to PnP party, “I was surprised to see him there”
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The kits come with latex gloves, condoms, lube, syringes, and G-timers, via straws, and a “bust card,” which is a little booklet listing your rights in the case of an arrest.
According to the Gay Man’s Collective, the kit, which costs about £5, or $7 U.S., was “made by gay men, for gay men and bi men and men who have sex with men (MSM)” and the syringes come color-coded to reduce sharing.
The kits, which can be purchased in single or twin packs, come “discretely packaged and posted 1st class, packs fit through standard letterboxes. Purchase on-line today, and there’s a good chance you’ll get yours tomorrow.”
Related: Police lieutenant busted for allegedly having Grindr PNP parties while on duty
Since launching in 2014, the Gay Man’s Collective has sold thousands of the kits, writing:
“Some of those involved in their development have direct knowledge and experience of drug use, addiction, withdrawal, and recovery. We also work with LGBT+, drugs, and sexual health services across the UK. Feedback remains very positive and we will continue to make more while the need is there.”
For the record: Chemsex is incredibly dangerous. Not just because drugs can kill you but because people often don’t exercise the best judgement while under the influence, especially when it comes to using protection, and can be exposed to all kinds of STDs. The PIP PAC may help to make chemsex safer, but the safest solution is to not engage in PnP.
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AgainNagain
What has the gay world become? Hard drug use should be condemned and suppressed with mandatory rehab and severe prison time, not normalized or encouraged like this so-call sex kit. If nothing is done now, more and more gays will engage in this dangerous addiction that makes them cheat, lie, steal, lose their job, their family, and their house. Their lives will be ruined and the recovery will be really difficult.
Brian
It’s counter-intuitive, but it can work. Clean needles are better than shared needles, and the cities that provide needle exchange do see a reduced impact of STIs. This is the same idea.
Brian
I still don’t understand why so many people are so pro choice about drug use, but severely anti choice about owning guns, when drugs cause more deaths and destroy way way way more lives for people who haven’t died yet than guns do. Especially when we’ve seen irrefutable proof from the drug epidemic that making something illegal does absolutely nothing to prevent widespread use.
And don’t say it’s because drug users are only hurting themselves because that certainly isn’t true.
JK 1984
I am pro drug reform. I’m also pro gun ownership fyi, as long as there is common sense laws about will can own them (note I’m not American so I’m talking about my country, not the USA/2nd amendment).
The reasons I am pro drug reform are simple:
1. Prohibition as you note doesn’t prevent usage, it just drives users to illegal channels to get them.
2. Because drugs are illegal, that tends to push the price up meaning people are more likely to commit other crimes to find a habit.
3. A lot of (not all) drug use doesn’t have an effect on others. E.g. someone getting stoned will get the munchies and order some food in.
I’m in favour of legalisation, taxation (to help with drug rehab for those who need it) and having some regulations around safety of some drugs, e.g. weed, E, etc. to take them out of the hands of gangs.
For harder drugs or ones that tend to cause more issues then decriminalisation and treating it as a health issue rather than a criminal issue.
Brian
I feel pretty much the same as you do. I don’t have any faith that drug taxation would do anything but line politicians pockets, but I do think destroying the market for drug smuggling would be a hugely positive thing.
AgainNagain
To me hard drug use, sale, and addiction is a moral problem, not an economical one. The reason this country is not winning the drug war is the tolerant attitude toward drugs like meth. People are doing drugs because they lack strong moral fiber in their character. They can remedy it by going to the 12-step groups or rehabs. However, we need to get tough on those who refuse to quit. Lock them up if we must.
sfhairy
Um, wow. Words fail me.
Heywood Jablowme
Does this really work? The kits look a little complicated for those losers to figure out.
QueerTruth
Brian,
Do you support alcohol use?
Odds are you do. As do most.
Did you know alcohol causes an estimated of 3 million people globally each year. Interesting right?
AgainNagain
How could you compare alcohol use with hard drugs? For one thing, hard drug use is illegal and should remain illegal. Most people can enjoy a drink or two without going crazy but hard drug users use meth to do dirty things and harm themselves and others. Sure, in the beginning, they do a bump or two for one night only but pretty soon, they smoke every day and start to inject the disgusting drug to their veins. Hard drugs may not kill as many as alcohol does due to the drunk driving but its long term impact is not just death but psychosis and sex addiction, far worse than death.
Brian
Since I’m not a teenager, no that’s not interesting, it’s common knowledge. And you completely missed my point. A lot of the “gun control now!” crowd are also “legalize drugs now!” people and that doesn’t make sense to me. Pick a side, the issues are two sides of the same coin. You should either believe in people’s right to decide these things for themselves or not.
Hdtex
False equivalency is false.
QueerTruth
Haha. And you missed my point too but you’re proving it for me. So thanks!
Brian
What exactly did I prove?
Hdtex
“safer” chemsex……BWAHAHAHAHA!!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
Brian
Yes. Using a condom is safer than not using a condom. They’re saying safeR, not “safe.”
Large Marge
It is ‘safer’. If people are going to use, I’d rather them have clean needles which reduces the spread of blood-borne pathogens, such as HIV, hepatitus, etc.
Addiction is very powerful both physically and mentally.
Throwing people in jail is not the solution.
Comparing is to alcohol just because alcohol is ‘legal’ isn’t the answer either. Alcohol is illegal in some places too.. oh and I seem to remember something about Prohibition era.
Some here clearly have never been addicted to anything and ‘solutions’ like throwing people in jail do nothing to solve the problem.
As for the gun comparison, I don’t want guns outlawed, but I do want them controlled. Proper training, insurance, registration, background checks. These are reasonable measures. I also seem to remember something that many seem to forget… ‘a well-regulated miltia…