“Chemsex” has been largely ignored by Thai authorities, despite studies linking it to unprotected sex and the spread of HIV.
“While other countries have taken tangible steps to tackle chemsex, the Thai government still has no system to handle it,” Surang Janyam told Thai PBS World ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1.
Surang chairs an AIDS-related network and heads SWING, a group protecting the health and rights of sex workers.
She says the link between chemsex and HIV infections is undeniable. However, statistics on the topic are unavailable in Thailand, where authorities shy away from the topic.
What is chemsex?
Chemsex refers to the use of psychoactive drugs – including methamphetamine, crystal meth, ketamine, GHB and GBL (G) – to enhance sexual activity, arousal, and satisfaction.
It is most commonly reported within LGBTQ groups, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM).
Since these narcotics impair cognitive ability, their use can lead to risky behaviours – including unprotected sex.
“When I use drugs, my sex drive increases,” said Note, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“I’m more into sex while high,” he added, explaining that sex is at the core of his relationships, often involving more than one partner.
Note acknowledges that his behaviour doesn’t align with mainstream monogamy, but feels there’s nothing wrong with his actions if they don’t harm others.
“The real problem isn’t us – people who engage in chemsex – but the society that stigmatises us,” he said.
Years spent in the chemsex community have taught Note that people of all ages and walks of life can become involved. The youngest he has encountered is 20, and the oldest 70.
“Some are high-level executives, some are teachers,” he said.
Varavuth Bunsirithanarot, executive director of Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, says based on records from his association's RSAT application about 4% of app users engaged in chemsex in 2023. The percentage has since risen to 5.74% in 2024 and 6.69% this year.
‘Serve, don’t stigmatise’
Surang said the government has no specific regulations on chemsex and so treats it simply as a drug abuse problem.
“But it’s important to differentiate between chemsex participants and drug abusers, as the former use drugs specifically for sexual activity,” she said.
She added that only by addressing the issue directly can Thailand move towards the global goal of eradicating AIDS by 2030. Criminalising the chemsex community, she said, was a step backwards.
“If we don’t handle this group appropriately, people will feel stigmatised and abandoned.”
Reports of police raids on drug-fuelled orgies have only heightened the stigma, discouraging people involved in chemsex from using services that help prevent HIV transmission and work towards eliminating AIDS.
Recognising the need to serve chemsex participants, the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation has implemented a project – called Climax – to engage the community and reduce harm.
“We surveyed 40 MSM aged 16 to 35, along with 10 people from their close circles, to help design harm-reduction services,” said Siriporn Nonenoy, Climax Project’s manager.
Working closely with the Foundation for AIDS Rights, one of those services delivers useful knowledge to chemsex participants arrested at drug parties.
“We teach them about the risks involved with drug use, including overdose,” Siriporn said. “We also tell them how to use needles safely, where to find safe supplies, and other things they may need to know.”
Siriporn said the project also offers emotional support to those involved in chemsex, providing mental-health screenings and connecting them with appropriate medical facilities.
She emphasised that the intention was not to encourage anyone to engage in drug-related sexual activity. “But because we know chemsex already exists, we are stepping in to ensure that participants can do it safely.”
Siriporn takes the view that chemsex participants have the right to use drugs for their sexual pleasure as long as they can control themselves, know how to use substances safely, and harm no one.
Is Thailand a chemsex haven?
Assoc Prof Teerayuth Rungnirundorn, who teaches psychiatry at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, told a recent academic conference that most participants engage in chemsex only once a month or less – typically on weekends or during holidays.
And the practice is not confined to any one region.
“Chemsex parties are found in Thailand, Taiwan, Sydney, and beyond,” he said.
However, Thailand has earned a reputation for chemsex because illicit drugs are more widely available here than in neighbouring countries such as Singapore and Vietnam, he added.
Dangerous sex trends
Data from the Bureau of AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) reveal that condom usage in Thai teenagers has dropped significantly in recent years.
This data aligns with figures showing that STDs such as syphilis and gonorrhoea have increased sixfold among Thai youth in the past three to four years.
Dr Atiwut Kamudhamas, a specialist in sexual health, explained that while young people know how to use condoms, they often take their cues from internet pornography, where safe sex is rarely depicted.
“Some people tend to think that it’s cool or trendy to not use condoms or to have more than one sexual partner,” he said. “These trends increase the risk of contracting STDs, including HIV.”
Current situation
A total of 547,556 people are living with HIV in Thailand, according to official data. Of that number, 13,357 are thought to have been infected through unsafe sex.
“Any reduction in HIV/AIDS campaigning could lead to a rise in infections,” Surang, head of the SWING sex-worker rights foundation, warned.
Chutima Saisaengjan, a consultant at the Buddy CU Clinic for sexual health, said HIV infection rates among women and youth visiting the clinic had risen over the past year.
“This is likely because awareness campaigns among this group are not as strong [as those targeting high-risk groups],” she said.
Surang said she was concerned about the US government’s recent decision to cut funding for HIV/AIDS campaigns in Thailand. The move, she warned, could leave sex workers and LGBTQ individuals from neighbouring Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam without the knowledge or resources needed to protect themselves.
“We already communicate a lot with Thai sex workers,” she said. “But we are worried about those coming from neighbouring countries.”
