Chemsex, Drugs and Alcohol: Support in Blackpool
Non-judgemental help with chemsex, party drugs and drinking, from harm reduction on Dickson Road to treatment and recovery.
Going out is a big part of Blackpool's LGBTQ+ life, and for most people that's all it is: a great night. But drink and drugs can creep up on anyone, and some gay, bisexual and trans people find themselves caught up in chemsex, where drugs such as crystal meth, GHB/GBL or mephedrone are used to have sex, often over long sessions. If any of that sounds familiar, Blackpool has free, confidential and judgement-free help, much of it right in the Rainbow Quarter.
Where to start
The easiest door to knock on is the LGBTQ+ health charity at 102 Dickson Road (FY1 2BU), call 01253 311431 or email enquiries@ren-uk.com. It runs the town's LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing service, which lists chemsex support among its services, alongside counselling, one-to-one support and sexual health clinics. Staff are used to talking about sex and drugs together, so you won't need to explain the scene to them.
You don't have to want to stop. Many people come first for safer-use advice, a sexual health check or just to talk things through.
Harm reduction on your doorstep
The same building is home to a harm reduction service for anyone using drugs or alcohol in Blackpool. It is free and confidential, and it offers:
- Safer-use advice on recreational drugs and new substances, plus tips for staying safe on nights out.
- Drink diaries and safer-drinking guidance if you want to cut down.
- A needle exchange, with clean injecting equipment (including for steroid users), safe disposal and safer-injecting advice.
- Take-home naloxone: free kits and overdose awareness training. Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses for long enough to get help.
- Blood-borne virus testing for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, plus hepatitis B vaccination.
- Assertive outreach for people who have dropped out of treatment or aren't ready for it yet.
Chemsex safety basics
If you are going to use, these steps can save a life:
- GHB/GBL: measure doses carefully with a syringe or pipette, note the time, leave at least two hours between doses and never mix with alcohol. Most deaths happen when it's mixed with drink or redosed too soon.
- Never use alone. Agree with friends that you'll check on each other.
- If someone can't be woken, put them in the recovery position and call 999 straight away. Tell the call handler what they've taken.
- Crystal meth can keep you awake for days. Drink water, eat, and plan time to sleep and recover.
- Look after your sexual health. Long sessions with multiple partners raise the risk of HIV and STIs. PrEP, PEP and regular testing all help. PEP must start within 72 hours.
- Consent still matters. Someone who is high or unconscious can't consent.
Treatment and recovery
If you want to cut down or stop, Blackpool's community drug and alcohol treatment service is called Horizon. It works from the Dickson Road building and a second base on Church Street. It offers treatment for drug and alcohol use, recovery groups and practical and legal advice. Call 0800 652 2206 to self-refer, or ask your GP.
The LGBTQ+ service can support you before, during and after treatment, so you have someone on your side who understands.
If you or a friend is in danger
- Emergency: call 999.
- Worried about your mental health: the Lancashire mental health crisis line is free and open 24 hours a day on 0800 953 0110.
- Need to talk now: Samaritans, free and day or night, on 116 123.
National signposts
- Antidote, run by a London LGBTQ+ charity, is one of the UK's longest-running chemsex services. Its in-person service is for London, but its website has helpful information.
- The national drug information service FRANK has a free helpline and live chat.
Services and opening times can change, so check before you go.