Jamie Willis - European ChemSex Forum 2016, London

1. Chemsex - Early Intervention
Considerations
Jamie Willis
Training & Outreach Manager
Antidote @ London Friend

2. Antidote experience
• Established 2002 at Turning Point
• Moved to London Friend 2011
• Community support service – psychosocial
interventions, complementary therapies
• Mid – late 2000s increased crystal and G
• Medical pathways
• Club Drug Clinic and GUM satellites
• SWAP - Structured Weekend Antidote
Programme

3. Who seeks treatment ?
• Typically different profile to traditional drug
services
• Higher functioning
• Less likely to have criminal record
• Respond well to interventions & treatment
• Triggers include arrest & negative experience
whilst using

4. Psychosocial Intervention
• Intervention vs Treatment/Support – needs greater
differentiation
• Assertive Community & Healthcare Based Interventions -
Only 12% of Antidote clients would feel comfortable
accessing ‘mainstream’ treatment
• Motivational Interviewing, CBT, relapse prevention - But
with cultural adaptations: e.g. relapse prevention through
management of online sexual-social profiles
• Tackle sexual health and drug use together

5. Building Motivation
Contem
plation Prepara
tion
Precontem
plation

6. Early interventions
• What do you know about the drugs that you have been using?
• What do you know about the effects?
• What do you know about the risks?
• How would you define problematic use
• What percentage of your sex life/free time involves chemsex?
• When was (or can you remember) the last time you had sober sex?
• Could you rate the intensity of the experience & your sense of satisfaction & enjoyment (for both
chemsex & sobersex)
• Was there anything about the experience that didn’t live up to your expectation or that you would
like to change?

7. GHB/GBL Monitor Sheet
Name Dose Time Dose Time Dose Time Dose Time Dose Time Dose Time Dose TimeName Dose Time Dose Time Dose Time Dose Time Dose Time Dose Time Dose Time
In party/group situations it can often be difficult to monitor how much G you have taken. To prevent casualties it’s a good idea to have
somebody on hand as the “G monitor” (preferably somebody who agrees to remain sober). Use the sheet below to record the initials
(or allocated number) of the person who plans to take G, along with the dose and what time it was taken. The next dose should not be
taken until 90 minutes has lapsed at the very least. Please note, it is against the law to supply a controlled substances to another
person (this includes just giving them to somebody) so the role of the monitor is to advise not to dispense.

8. Assessment Considerations
• What drugs & how much information
• What are the harms?
• Dependence
• Injecting practices
• Sexual risk behaviour
• Alcohol consumption
• Issues around consent

9. Strengthening Commitment
Prepara
tion
Action
Mainten
ance
Stability,
safer
behaviour
(Re)
Lapse

10. What works?
• Brief intervention in community & healthcare settings
• Good App Hygiene
• Informal support – Drop in services
• “Keywork” - Structured multiple sessions of
psychosocial intervention
• Group “key work”

11. What May Also Work?
• Client empowerment and involvement – e.g.
client led events, groups, support & consultation
• “Significant others” - Acknowledgement,
empowerment and involvement.
• Education Programmes – Professionals,
community & significant others
• “Recovery”? – re-orientation of services

12. “Recovery” Oriented Services
• Focus on quality of life more than just “problems”
• More empowering, less judgemental language
• Focus on personal & community strengths, not
just perceived weaknesses
• Focus on hope, optimism, potential for growth
• Goal: restore full citizenship

13. • An intensive 4 week structured programme (spread over 4 consecutive weekends) designed specifically to support clients to
address issues around club drug use.
• For men 18+ who identify as a Gay, Bi, trans or MSM (men who have sex with men) and feel that their drug use is either
already out of control, getting out of control or is having a negative impact on their lives.
• Designed to fit around existing life commitments whilst allowing an opportunity to break the cycle of
weekend partying.
• Takes our clients through a series of workshops aimed at helping them to understand and explore issues such as:
• Relapse Prevention
• Sex (inc. sober sex) & Sexuality
• Self Esteem & Confidence
• Assertiveness
• Relationships
• Boundaries
• Social/intimacy anxiety
• Thinking patterns
• Goal setting, life planning & decision making
• Relaxation & stress management

14. Contact details
• www.londonfriend.org.uk
• www.londonfriend.org.uk/antidote
• antidote@londonfriend.org.uk
• www.facebook.com/londonfriend
• Twitter: @JamieWillis71 @lgbtfriend
• 020 7833 1674