Also known in personal ads and internet profiles as: chems, PnP (pills and poppers, party and play), party favo(u)rs. Also: likes to party = takes drugs, tweaker = user of the drug crystal meth

Most of us use one drug or other: a pint, a cigarette, a shot of strong coffee or Red Bull - or illegal drugs. HardCell has the lowdown on the drugs used most often during sex.

The feeling

Drugs can make us feel sociable, part of the group, excited, confident, sexy and relaxed, and generally change reality into something more interesting or attractive. During sex they can heighten our senses, relax us (helpful for being fucked or fisted) or make us feel hornier.

They can also make us feel pain less, with the chance we notice less if cocks, arses, mouths and so on are hurt or bleeding. And sex can get so closely linked in our mind with drugs that it might get hard to imagine good sex without them.

Taking risks

Apart from getting dependent on them or physically addicted to them, the biggest risk can be how drugs lower our inhibitions, cloud our judgement or even make us unaware of what we're doing or have done. When we're under the influence of booze or drugs some of us take sexual risks, including with HIV.

If you put yourself at risk of getting or passing on HIV there's a treatment called Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). If started quickly enough, PEP can stop you or the other guy getting infected. You can find out more about PEP on this website. www.pep.chapsonline.org.uk

Drug ‘cocktails’

With street drugs you never know exactly what you're taking. They've often been ‘cut’ by dealers with other things, some of which may be toxic. You might think you're taking one drug but in reality it could contain others, so you'll be mixing drugs without realising (a lot of ecstasy is cut with speed, for example). Also, the strength and dosage will vary as no drug or batch is made using a standard recipe or set of ingredients.

That's why mixing drugs can be especially unpredictable, with a higher risk of overdose or death. The more different drugs you take during the same session, the more strain it puts on your body, especially your heart, liver and brain. And some drugs are just bad combinations in themselves.

Tips

Here are some tips on mixing.

Taking two drugs of the same kind is most risky. It can increase their effect to dangerous levels (and make the comedown worse). For example, taking two depressant drugs together is especially risky as depressant drugs or ‘downers’ slow your body and its functions down to the point where it can stop you breathing; such as alcohol with GHB (or with sleeping tablets, K or tranquillisers). Taking two stimulants (for example cocaine with speed) puts real pressure on your heart, as stimulant drugs or ‘uppers’ make your body and its functions go faster.

Drugs of different kinds

Trying to balance out, say, a stimulant with a depressant is unpredictable. It may weaken the effect of a drug or strengthen it. It also stresses the body's organs by telling it speed up and slow down at the same time.

Mixing with HIV drugs

If you're on HIV treatment some HIV drugs can push levels of the street drug towards overdose or life-threatening levels. E, K, speed, GHB and crystal meth in particular can do this. Check with your HIV doctor to see how your HIV drugs might mix with party drugs.

There is also plenty of information about party drugs and HIV meds at www.thebody.com/content/art5011.html. Being ‘out of it’ also can make people more likely not to take their HIV pills at the right time or at all.

Alcohol and ecstasy

Alcohol and ecstasy are a bad mix. Booze deadens the effect of E and both dehydrate the body (take water out of it), which is made worse by dancing and hot clubs. But don't overdo your water intake; too much can be just as dangerous.

Ecstasy taken while on antidepressants can cause Serotonin Syndrome, when too much of the brain chemical that causes happiness is produced. Symptoms include agitation, sleeplessness, sweating, raised heart beat, muscle spasms and more. If this happens, urgent medical help is needed.

Erection drugs

Viagra and other erection drugs can interact with some HIV meds, so a lower dose of the Viagra-type drug may be needed. Check with your doctor before mixing them.

Poppers and Viagra-type drugs might cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. You can find out more about Viagra-type drugs and what you should know elsewhere in the Lab.

You can find out more about drug interactions with HIV meds at www.tht.org.uk/drugfucked