Chemsex-related deaths in the United Kingdom (2017–2022): A review of the Forensic Toxicology data

• Published in: Forensic science international Vol. 375; p. 112553
• Main Authors: Tyler, Mark, Ward, Lindsey, Grosse, Susan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01.10.2025; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol; Anesthesia; Arteriosclerosis; Asphyxia; Atherosclerosis; Benzodiazepines; Blood; Breath tests; Calibration; Cannabis; Cardiovascular diseases; Chemsex; Chloroethane; Chromatography; Chromatography, Liquid; Cocaine; Death; Diazepam; Diphenhydramine; Drug abuse; Drugs; Ecstasy; Fatalities; Female; Females; Flame ionization detectors; Forensic Toxicology; Gas chromatography; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; GHB; Heart diseases; Humans; Illicit Drugs; Ischemia; Ketamine; Liquid chromatography; Male; Males; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Men; Mephedrone; Methamphetamine; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Polydrug use; Psychotropic drugs; Psychotropic Drugs - blood; Quetiapine; Scientific imaging; Sex; Sexual Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders - mortality; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Tetrahydrocannabinol; THC; Toxicity; Toxicology; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Urine; Young Adult; United Kingdom; United Kingdom > UK; England; GHB; Mephedrone; Death; Polydrug use; Chemsex; Methamphetamine

The colloquial term “chemsex” (or “party and play”) has appeared within the media and scientific literature within the past decade or so. It has been described as “sex, sometimes long sessions with multiple partners, under the influence of psychoactive drugs (particularly mephedrone, GHB, GBL and cr...