What Is This Page For?

⚠️ PrEP ACCESS & CHEMSEX: People involved in chemsex are among those at highest risk of HIV — and therefore among those most harmed by the current PrEP access crisis. If you are in the chemsex scene and do not yet have PrEP, treat this as urgent. Use BCN Checkpoint or Apoyo Positivo to fast-track enrollment. If the waitlist is too long, see > The Online Ordering Gray Area for interim options. Being on a waitlist while sexually active in chemsex contexts is an acute risk situation.

Spain — particularly Barcelona and Madrid — has a significant chemsex scene. This page is not a judgment. It exists because if you are engaging in chemsex, or want to stop, or are somewhere in between, there are specific resources in Spain designed for you.

Chemsex in the Spanish context typically involves some combination of GHB/GBL, mephedrone (meow), crystal meth (tina), and sometimes ketamine or cocaine, used in sexual contexts. The health risks are real: overdose (especially GHB), dependency, STI exposure, and mental health impact.

Barcelona

BCN Checkpoint — Chemsex Support Unit

  • What: Dedicated chemsex support program within BCN Checkpoint. They offer counseling, harm reduction advice, and referral to treatment if needed.
  • Why it works: The staff understand the scene. You do not have to explain or justify yourself.
  • Access: Book via BCN Checkpoint's regular appointment system. Mention chemsex when booking.
  • Language: Spanish, Catalan, English, and others.

Stop Sida

  • What: NGO focused on HIV/STI prevention in the gay and bisexual men. They run outreach in saunas and clubs and offer harm reduction materials.
  • Relevance: They can connect you with resources if you're concerned about your use.

Hospital Clínic — Addictions Unit

  • What: If you need clinical addiction treatment (detox, psychiatry, structured programs), Hospital Clínic's addictions unit is the main public reference in Barcelona.
  • Access: Referral through your GP or through BCN Checkpoint.

Madrid

Apoyo Positivo — ChemSafe Program

  • What: Apoyo Positivo runs ChemSafe, one of the few dedicated chemsex harm reduction programs in Spain.
  • Services: Individual counseling, group sessions, drug checking (identifying substances), and referral to treatment.
  • Why it works: Community-run, non-judgmental, specifically designed for gay men who use drugs in sexual contexts.
  • Access: Contact Apoyo Positivo directly. Walk-ins may be possible for initial consultation.

COGAM

  • What: Madrid's main LGBTQ+ association. They offer general health and wellbeing support, including referrals for substance use.

Centro de Atención a las Adicciones (CAD)

  • What: Madrid's public addiction treatment centers (Centros de Atención a las Drogodependencias). There are multiple locations across the city.
  • Pros: Free, public, clinical support including psychiatry.
  • Cons: Not specifically designed for chemsex or gay men. You may need to explain the context. The environment can feel clinical and impersonal.

National / Online

Energy Control (ABD)

  • What: A Spanish harm reduction organization that offers drug checking services — you can send a sample and they will analyze its composition.
  • Why it matters: Knowing what is actually in your substances reduces overdose risk (especially critical with GHB/GBL where dosing errors are the main killer).
  • Access: energycontrol.org. They operate from Barcelona but accept samples by mail from across Spain.

Teléfono de la Esperanza

  • Phone: 717 003 717
  • What: National crisis line. Not chemsex-specific, but available 24/7 if you are in acute distress.

024 — Suicide Prevention Line

  • Phone: 024
  • What: Spain's national suicide prevention hotline. Free, 24/7. If chemsex-related depression or crisis reaches a breaking point, call.

Harm Reduction Basics

If you are engaging in chemsex and are not ready to stop, or do not want to, these steps reduce risk:

  • GHB/GBL dosing: Use a syringe or pipette to measure. Never eyeball it. The difference between a recreational dose and an overdose is tiny. Set phone timers between doses (minimum 2 hours for GHB). Never mix with alcohol.
  • Mephedrone / Crystal: Stay hydrated but do not overhydrate. Eat something before and after. If injecting (slamming), use clean equipment every time — needle exchanges are available at pharmacies and NGOs.
  • Testing: Get tested for HIV and STIs every 3 months if you are in the scene. Use PrEP. See > Testing Hubs and > PrEP Access.
  • Consent: Substances impair judgment and the ability to consent. If someone is unconscious or heavily intoxicated, they cannot consent. This is non-negotiable.
  • Buddy system: Have someone sober or semi-sober who knows what you have taken and can call 112 if something goes wrong.
  • If someone collapses (GHB overdose): Call 112 immediately. Place them in the recovery position. Do not leave them alone. Tell the paramedics exactly what they took — you will not be prosecuted for calling an ambulance.

Summary

Spain has real, dedicated chemsex support — particularly through BCN Checkpoint (Barcelona) and Apoyo Positivo's ChemSafe program (Madrid). If you need help, these are the doors to walk through. If you are not ready for that, at minimum use the harm reduction steps above and keep testing.

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