Newly emerging chemsex scene

In recent years, OUT Well-being has identified a new chemsex scene that differs from the more known “middle-class” chemsex scene. This newly emerging scene consists of (trans) men (and sometimes women) who engage in chemsex and reside in the townships of significant cities in South Africa. The chemsex events occur in private houses run as informal brothels. The men who come to these houses to serve clients’ needs live in vulnerable, low socio-economic circumstances. Often homeless and with limited means to generate an income, the priorities of these men center around daily survival.

Objectives for this assignment


OUT Well-being in South Africa has pioneered several HIV-oriented interventions for men in the chemsex scene. However, the complex needs and circumstances of the men that OUT encounters recently seem to demand different and innovative approaches. OUT reached out to Mainline to work together on the following objectives:

1. To assess and better understand the needs and priorities of men in the chemsex scene in the townships of Jo’Burg;
2. To create more awareness among (HIV) donors and other (governmental and non-governmental) stakeholders around the complex needs of men in the chemsex scene in the townships of Jo’Burg and around drug use in a sexualized setting in general.

Learn more about chemsex

Are your interested to learn more about chemsex and evidence-based responses to support men who encounter problems with sex and drugs? Feel free to contact us via training@mainline.nl or check out our selection of training courses on chemsex.

More info on chemsex