Chemsex or sexualised drug use within the local authority

I would like to request the following information relating to chemsex or sexualised drug use within your local authority area which can be held across various services, including but not limited to sexual health, mental health, drug and alcohol services and A&E.

1. Policies and Strategies

Does the local authority have any policies, strategies, or guidelines that specifically reference any of the following (please answer yes or no for each question) If Yes, please provide 1. the title(s), 2. publication date(s) and 3. a copy of, or public link to the document:

a) Chemsex

b) Sexualised drug use

c) Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) / gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) use

d) Crystal methamphetamine use

e) Mephedrone use

f) LGBTQ+ health issues

2. Services and Support

Does your local authority commission or fund any services that provide support specifically for any of the following (e.g. harm reduction, sexual health, mental health, or community support) (please answer yes or no for each question)

If Yes, please provide 1. the name(s) of the services(s), 2. provider organisation(s), 3. duration of the current contract(s), and 4. Whether the service is delivered as part of a wider contract (e.g. drug and alcohol treatment, sexual health services)

a) Chemsex

b) Sexualised drug use

c) Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) / gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) use

d) Crystal methamphetamine use

e) Mephedrone use

f) LGBTQ+ health issues
g) For those that you stated no to for question 2 above, are the following issues supported under existing services (e.g. general drug and alcohol services, sexual health clinics)? Please answer yes or no for each question, or mark Not Applicable if you said Yes for question 2a above). If yes, please identify which services would typically manage such cases.

h) Chemsex

I) Sexualised drug use

j) Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) / gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) use

k) Crystal methamphetamine use

l) Mephedrone use

m) LGBTQ+ health issues

3. Pathways and Referral Processes

Does the local authority or its commissioned services have a care pathway or referral protocol for any of the following (please answer yes or no for each question) If Yes, please provide a copy of the pathway/protocol or a brief description if a document is not available

a) Chemsexb) Sexualised drug use

c) Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) / gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) use

d) Crystal methamphetamine use

e) Mephedrone use

f) LGBTQ+ health issues

g) Are there any joint working arrangements or data-sharing agreements between drug and alcohol services, sexual health services and mental health services specifically relating to chemsex or sexualised drug use? Please state Yes or No.

h) If Yes to question 3c, please provide details or copies of relevant agreements (if not exempt).

4. Data and Monitoring

Does the local authority or its commissioned services collect data on service users presenting with chemsex or sexualised drug use issues? Please state Yes or No.

Note: we recognise that there are no ICD-10 codes or nationally recognised format to record chemsex or sexualised drug use related issues therefore if this information is collected within your local authority, it would be through a unique system that was set up locally.

a) If Yes to question 4, please indicate:

a.1) Which service(s) collect this data;

a.2) What indicators or categories are used (e.g. 'chemsex,' 'GHB use,' 'sexualised drug use');

a.3) The total number of clients recorded under those indicators for each of the last three years (if available).

b) If No to question 4a, please confirm whether there are any plans to include it in future data collection systems or reporting frameworks. Please state Yes or No.

c) If Yes to question 4c, please provide any documents related to these plans or state any details about the future plans (e.g. when it will start, what data will be collected and from what services etc)

5. Additional Context

Please provide any publicly available reports, needs assessments, or evaluations produced or commissioned by the local authority since 2020 that include information about chemsex or sexualised drug use, GHB/GBL, crystal methamphetamine, mephedrone use or LGBTQ+ needs.

1. No policy or strategy is available that specifically references any of a-f.

2a) Our commissioned integrated sexual health service provider, GLiSH (Greater Lincolnshire Integrated Sexual Health) is required to provide assessment and referral to address Chemsex concerns to the relevant organisation including drug and alcohol treatment services. Delivered as part of a wider contract.

b-e) Not specified

f) GLiSH are required deliver LGBT, trans, non-binary and gender-diverse inclusive services, in line with BASHH standards. Delivered as part of a wider contract.

3. Not formally. As above, GliSH will have referral pathways in place with relevant organisations including drug and alcohol services to address chemsex concerns.

g). No

4. No

b) No plans currently

5. N/a