Taking Chances for Love? Reflections on Love, Risk, and Harm Reduction in a Gay Slamming Subculture

Abstract

With the recent legalization of gay marriage in France, the couple has become the most valued social unit in the gay community. The emergence of the ''chemsex'' and ''slamming'' subculture-which involves injecting drugs during sexual encounters-on the fringes of the gay online dating scene has thus aroused new fears and anxieties. While slamming is often portrayed as a risky, extreme, and deviant practice divorced from the sentimental norms of stable relationships, this article aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of how practices of injecting drug use-and significantly, attendant practices of managing risks and harms-are entangled with the search for love and willingness to build lasting emotional bonds among young gay men. Drawing on ethnographic immersion on two gay dating sites and 25 life story interviews with gay men who inject drugs in Paris and Lyon, I argue that the link between romantic relationships and injecting drug use is anything but straightforward. The suffering and loneliness that follow romantic breakups can trigger uncontrolled drug use while feelings of ''love fusion'' between ''slammers'' can encourage further risk-taking. But romantic relationships can also provide crucial symbolic and material support to place limits on drug use in ways that reduce harm.

Prevalence and correlates of recent injecting drug use among gay and bisexual men in Australia: Results from the FLUX study

“…Further research is also necessary to explore what is meant by sterilisation in this context. Previous research has suggested that drug use among GBM may be explained by cultural norms around sexual relationships and practices which are sustained among socially engaged GBM (Amaro, 2016;Southgate & Hopwood, 2001). One Australian study (Slavin, 2004a) found that injecting drug use fostered a sense of belonging to gay community among some gay men.…”

“…Despite the growing body of research on drug use among GBM, most studies of injecting drug use in this population have either been qualitative and thus unable to identify the correlates of injecting (Amaro, 2016;Dowsett, Wain, & Keys, 2005;Ellard, 2007;Slavin, 2004aSlavin, , 2004bSouthgate & Hopwood, 1993 or have only collected incidental data about injecting. To better understand the factors associated with injecting drug use in this population and to elucidate their potential role in HIV and HCV transmission, we investigated the prevalence and correlates of recent injecting in a large prospective observational study specifically designed to examine drug use among GBM.…”

Chemsex as edgework: towards a sociological understanding

“…M. (42) The intense emotions experienced in chemsex, including bonding, love and emotional connection, is a major incentive to participate. 22 Lyng claimed that most fundamentally, high-risk behaviours involve "the problem of negotiating the boundary between chaos and order" (p.855). A common experience in chemsex is the losing of one's own boundaries.…”

“Slam Sex” - Sexualized Injecting Drug Use (“SIDU”) Amongst Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)—A Scoping Review

“…Several studies report that "SIDU" facilitates, enhances, and/or prolongs sexual experiences (Amaro, 2016;Deimel et al, 2016;Hunt, 2012;Weatherburn, Hickson, Reid, Torres-Rueda, & Bourne, 2017). Sexual liberation and selfmedication for low sex drives can be a motivating factor for "SIDU" (Deimel et al, 2016;Milhet, Shah, Madesclaire, & Gaissad, 2019;Souleymanov, 2018;Weatherburn et al, 2017).…”

“…Sexual liberation and selfmedication for low sex drives can be a motivating factor for "SIDU" (Deimel et al, 2016;Milhet, Shah, Madesclaire, & Gaissad, 2019;Souleymanov, 2018;Weatherburn et al, 2017). Amaro (2016) reports that many MSM initiate "SIDU" after the breakdown of previous relationships. Conversely, "SIDU" may facilitate romantic experiences and become a component of forming relationships with other MSM who "slam" (ibid.).…”