MPs from all sides want to raise awareness of the worrying rise of chemsex, a dangerous and addictive practice that involves using certain drugs to intensify sexual relations, by voting on Monday for a bill calling on the State to develop a "national prevention strategy."
The case of comedian Pierre Palmade, who caused a serious accident in February 2023 after several days of chemsex, helped bring this practice out of the shadows, a 2022 report submitted to the Ministry of Health estimated that it affected at least 100,000 to 200,000 people in France.
Chemsex "is still too little known" among the French, even though it "is a public health, and even security, issue," warns Macronist MP Brigitte Liso, who initiated the proposed resolution being debated in the chamber.
"It's a delicate subject," she explains, "it speaks of both sexuality - even homosexuality - and drugs," that is to say, of "the intimate and the illicit."
Chemsex primarily affects men who have sex with men.
The text, signed by 124 parliamentarians from all political groups (except LFI and the RN, who were not approached by Brigitte Liso), calls on the executive to provide a precise epidemiological assessment and a prevention strategy (support for associations, awareness campaigns, training of health professionals, etc.).
"The practice of chemsex is becoming more common among increasingly younger people, from all backgrounds and regions," warns Ms. Liso, highlighting the ease with which it is possible to obtain the substances and the spread of these practices via dating apps.
Beyond addiction, there are many risks: decreased vigilance can lead to unprotected sex (with risks of contamination) or violent behavior; sexual assault. Not to mention comas or deaths from overdoses.
"We must send a signal," argues Socialist MP Arthur Delaporte, co-signatory of the text and president of the HIV/AIDS study group in the Assembly.
– “Wave” to come –
"Miscellaneous incidents are rife in the news," the elected official claims. As proof, he types "chemsex" into a search engine on his phone and reads a newly published article: "Former deputy prison director died during the night of Thursday to Friday."
"It can affect anyone," he emphasizes.
Including a member of parliament. On October 17, the rebellious elected official Andy Kerbrat was caught red-handed purchasing narcotics in Paris, specifically 3-MMC.
In a Médiapart article, which revealed that he allegedly used his advance on mandate fees to buy drugs, the elected official admitted to struggling with a serious addiction developed through chemsex-related practices.
The MP, who has since been on sick leave, was also the only LFI co-signatory of a nearly identical resolution proposal, which was due to be debated in the House in mid-June 2024, before the dissolution.
The subject returned to the Palais Bourbon in October, during the examination of the draft finance bill.
Ms Liso had managed to get the committee to vote on a budget of 300,000 euros for the prevention of chemsex, but the government did not include this provision in the adopted text.
The draft resolution discussed on Monday, which is not binding on the state, is expected to be adopted very broadly, perhaps unanimously.
The La France Insoumise group will provide its support.
"It is more than necessary for the State to invest massively and quickly in a prevention plan," explains elected representative Ségolène Amiot, saying she fears "a wave" to which the public authorities are not ready to respond, "addiction services being already saturated."
This former community activist warns of an expansion of the practice among heterosexuals, who do not benefit from the network of prevention and risk reduction associations established by the LGBT+ community, and while the State has, according to her, "abandoned" prevention policies for years.
On the other side of the spectrum, the National Rally (RN) also approves the bill. "I hope it will be adopted unanimously," says RN MP Thierry Frappé. "We need to talk about it, raise awareness of this problem," which "is no longer anecdotal."
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