Brother to Brother: Chemsex, PnP & HnH Safety for Black Gay Men

By Daniel Nkado.

Dear Brothers,

As 2025 comes to an end and we look toward 2026, this message is for my fellow Black queer men—especially those of us who navigate late-night party culture. This piece addresses the complex and occasionally risky dynamics of chemsex spaces, including the practices known as PnP (party and play) and HnH (high and horny).

I write this, not as a lecture, but as a gentle letter composed with care, honesty, and a commitment to our collective survival and Black joy. As Black queer men, we carry heavy burdens that you really have to be one of us to understand. Even going by what science says, being Black and queer means we face compounded issues of minority stress due to intersecting pressures.

There’s no shame in looking for relief, connection, pleasure, or escape in these spaces. Wanting to feel good is not weakness — it’s survival. But instead of dwelling on systems that consistently fail to prioritise us, let’s focus on forging new paths that better serve our needs.

Why Black Queer Men Turn To Chemsex

Many Black queer men often turn to substance use as a way of coping with a unique combination of stressors. Researchers consistently note that minority stress—the chronic strain from stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion faced by marginalised individuals—significantly increases vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues (Meyer, 2003⁶; Schuler et al., 2020)⁸.

Statistics confirm this:

Large-scale U.S. data show that sexual minority adults are significantly more likely to use illicit substances than heterosexual adults. Approximately 37% of sexual minority adults reported past-year illicit drug use, compared to 17% of heterosexual adults (Rosner et al., 2021)⁷.

The HIV Disparity

Researchers and analysts note that systemic barriers, not riskier behaviour, drive the disproportionate HIV burden among Black gay and bisexual men. In 2024, CDC data showed Black gay and bisexual men accounted for 26% of new HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM), despite representing a much smaller share of the population (CDC, 2024)².

Other Aggravating Issues

For Black queer men, stressors are intensified by:

• Exclusion and under-representation in some queer spaces.
• Increased exposure to microaggressions and shaming.
• Fetishisation and being treated as a fantasy rather than a full person (e.g., “BBC” stereotypes).
• Feeling “too Black” in white queer spaces and “too queer” in Black spaces. Constant worry about feeling “out of place” creates anxiety and may ultimately lead to isolation.
• Violence and criminalisation create extra problems for Black queer men living in hostile countries.

We are not weak for seeking ways to forget trauma. None of us planned to be born in a world that makes everything so exhausting. But we at least owe it to ourselves to be honest and take care of ourselves and each other.

The Specific Reality of Chemsex for Black Queer Men

Chemsex typically involves drugs such as crystal methamphetamine (“Tina”), mephedrone, and GHB/GBL (“G”) to enhance or prolong sexual encounters. While these substances may temporarily increase confidence or euphoria, chemsex environments can be uniquely hostile and risky to Black men.

The Hidden Risks in Chemsex Spaces

• Fetishisation: Many Black men report degrading comments, being subjected to racialised fantasies, or pressure to perform.
• Consent challenges: High intoxication makes it difficult to establish or maintain consent, increasing vulnerability to sexual risk and assault (Bourne et al., 2015)¹.

2026 Chemsex Risks to Watch

1. The Fentanyl Crisis

The drug supply has become increasingly unstable and dangerous. Fentanyl—a synthetic opioid reported to be 50–100 times more potent than morphine—is now appearing in non-opioid drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and counterfeit pills. This contamination has been observed in multiple regions. (DEA, n.d.)³.

Fentanyl’s high potency means a minuscule amount can be lethal. It poses a high risk for fatal overdose, especially for unsuspecting users.

Black queer men in chemsex settings face a heightened danger—witnesses are less likely to call emergency services during an overdose due to a justified mistrust of police and fear of arrest (Johnson et al., 2022)⁵.

2. GHB/GBL (‘G’) and the ‘Drop‘

GHB is a depressant with a steep dose-response curve. The difference between euphoria and unconsciousness can be as little as 1 millilitre.

• Danger: Rapid sedation increases vulnerability to sexual assault.
• Physiology: Mixing G with alcohol or other depressants significantly increases the risk of respiratory failure (Tay et al., 2022)⁹.

With GHB/GBL:

• Avoid GHB/GBL + alcohol + benzos (Xanax, Valium). This is a high-risk combo for overdose and respiratory arrest.
• Because GHB has a narrow safety window, even experienced users can accidentally overdose.
• Use a measured syringe or dropper, not “just a cap.”
• Set a timer (e.g., 2–3 hours) before even considering a redose.
• If someone looks unresponsive, call emergency services immediately—do not just “let them sleep it off” (Freestone et al., 2023)⁴.

3. Crystal Meth and the ‘Crash‘

Methamphetamine causes a surge of dopamine, followed by a severe crash or comedown. A meth comedown can leave users feeling unhappy, anxious, or agitated. Intense depression, paranoia, and psychosis can occur after prolonged use or lack of sleep.

Long-term meth use can alter brain structures involved in reward and emotion, making it harder to feel pleasure without the drug (Thompson et al., 2004)¹⁰.

A study involving gay men who engage in chemsex in South London shows that poor knowledge of dosing—especially with GHB/GBL—led to frequent overdoses and “near misses,” and many men often struggled with consent, anxiety, and low mood afterwards, yet avoided traditional drug services, due to fear of judgment and cultural misunderstanding (Bourne et al., 2015)¹.

8 Harm Reduction Strategies for Black Queer Men

This is not a call for abstinence. It is a toolkit for survival, autonomy, and care.

1. Check in with Yourself

“Checking in with yourself” means pausing whatever you’re doing and using mindfulness and honest reflection to assess what’s happening in your body, your mind, and your emotions at the present moment.

Before opening an app or heading to a party, ask:

• What do I need tonight—sex, validation, escape, connection?
• Am I grounded enough to make decisions that protect me?

Understanding your need helps you stay in control and coordinate your actions more effectively toward your goal.

2. Vet the Space

• Read the room: How are Black men being spoken to in group chats or messages?
• Trust your gut: If the energy feels racist, coercive, predatory, or unsafe, do not go. Power imbalances increase risk.

3. Set Non-Negotiable Boundaries

Decide your limits while sober and stick to them. You can write them out and share with the host before taking any drug.

• “No injection.”
• “I will only take G if I measure it myself.”
• “No trying of any new substance I haven’t done before.”

4. Use the ‘Lifeline’ Protocol

This is exceptionally important for Black queer men living in more dangerous cities.

• Tell a trusted friend where you’re going.
• Share your live location.
• Set a check-in time and a safe word or emoji.
• Permit them to intervene if you go silent.

5. Carry Your Personal Harm Reduction Toolkit

• Fentanyl test strips: You can easily buy them on Amazon. Test every powder and pill before taking.
• Naloxone (Narcan): It reverses opioid overdoses.
• Condoms & PrEP: Prevention is power.
• PEP access: Know where to go within 72 hours to get PEP if needed.

6. Start Low, Go Slow

• Test shots: If injecting, start with a very small amount. Use a new syringe every time. If possible, consider routes of administration with lower risks, like snorting or boofing.
• Time your G: Use a timer. Never redose within 2–3 hours.
• Measure properly: Use a syringe, never a bottle cap.
• Never redose if you can’t remember when or how much you last took — when in doubt, wait it out.

If someone is determined to use, many harm-reduction experts consider rectal administration (‘boofing’) lower-risk than injecting because it eliminates needle-related infections and vein damage—though it still carries other significant risks.

7. Know the Recovery Position

If someone is unconscious but breathing:

• Roll them onto their side.
• Tilt their head back to open the airway.
• Call for help if breathing slows or stops.

8. Plan Your Aftercare

The days after a session can be emotionally fragile.

• Prepare food and electrolytes.
• Prioritise sleep.
• Reach out to community advocates if depression intensifies.
• Consider having a trusted brother or queer-friendly therapist lined up for any unforeseen events. Local Black LGBTQ organisations have peer support groups that understand chemsex and provide care without shaming.

A Word To Other Black Men

Please take care of each other!

In high-risk chemsex and PnP spaces, safety depends on mutual care. Historically, we have always protected each other when the world wouldn’t. Looking out for one another is simple: checking in, ensuring safe travel, intervening during shifts in energy, or challenging acts of racism, fetishisation, pressure and disrespect.

And most importantly, never allowing yourself to become an instrument of harm to another brother. This is the unspoken code we shared where I grew up. It is sacred. Our well-being is interconnected. Supporting one another strengthens us all.

One risky night does not define your worth. Let’s look out for each other in 2026.

With love,
Daniel.

---

Daniel Nkado is a Nigerian writer, editor, and author, best known as the founder of DNB Stories Africa, a digital platform covering Black stories, lifestyle, and queer culture.

References

1. Bourne, A., Reid, D., Hickson, F., Torres-Rueda, S., & Weatherburn, P. (2015). “Chemsex” and harm reduction needs among gay men in South London. International Journal of Drug Policy, 26(12), 1171–1176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.07.013
2. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, October 7). Fast facts: HIV and gay and bisexual men. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/data-research/facts-stats/gay-bisexual-men.html
3. Drug Enforcement Administration — DEA. (n.d.). Facts about fentanyl. https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl
4. Freestone, J., Ezard, N., Bourne, A., Brett, J., Roberts, D. M., Hammoud, M., Nedanoski, A., Prestage, G., & Siefried, K. J. (2023). Understandings, attitudes, practices and responses to GHB overdose among GHB consumers. Harm Reduction Journal, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-023-00857-z
5. Johnson, L. M., Devereux, P. G., & Wagner, K. D. (2022). The group-based law enforcement mistrust scale: psychometric properties of an adapted scale and implications for public health and harm reduction research. Harm Reduction Journal, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-022-00635-3
6. Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
7. Rosner, B., Neicun, J., Yang, J. C., & Roman-Urrestarazu, A. (2021). Substance use among sexual marginalised groups in the US—Linked to inequalities and unmet need for mental health treatment? Journal of Psychiatric Research, 135, 107–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.12.023
8. Schuler, M. S., Prince, D. M., Breslau, J., & Collins, R. L. (2020). Substance Use Disparities at the Intersection of Sexual Identity and Race/Ethnicity: Results from the 2015–2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. LGBT Health, 7(6). https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2019.0352
9. Tay, E., Lo, W. K. W., & Murnion, B. (2022). Current insights on the impact of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) abuse. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 13, 13–23. https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S315720
10. Thompson, P. M., Hayashi, K. M., Simon, S. L., Geaga, J. A., Hong, M. S., Sui, Y., Lee, J. Y., Toga, A. W., Ling, W., & London, E. D. (2004). Structural abnormalities in the brains of human subjects who use methamphetamine. The Journal of Neuroscience: The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 24(26), 6028–6036. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0713-04.2004

Gaslighting or Boundaries: Is Therapy Speak Ruining Gay Dating Today?

Finding Joy and Healing Through Art—A Love Letter to Black Queer People