Sweden has a notably conservative drug policy by European standards — "zero tolerance" that criminalises personal drug use as well as possession and supply. This creates specific barriers for gay and bisexual men dealing with chemsex, because seeking help involves implicitly admitting to illegal activity. In practice, healthcare providers including Venhälsan and RFSL staff are bound by professional confidentiality and do not report personal drug use to police — being honest with them is safe from a legal perspective.
For drug mechanics, overdose protocols, and harm reduction principles, see Chemsex: Safety — General Guide.
Emergency
112 — ambulance.
If someone becomes unresponsive: call 112. Say they have lost consciousness and you believe they may have taken a depressant substance. You don't need to identify the specific drug to get an ambulance. Swedish emergency services respond to overdoses as medical emergencies, not primarily as criminal matters.
First Contact: Venhälsan and RFSL
Venhälsan (Stockholm): 08-616 37 20 RFSL (national): rfsl.se / 020-34 13 16
Venhälsan has specific experience with chemsex among gay and bisexual men and staff trained in non-judgmental harm reduction counselling. This is the most appropriate first contact for the intersection of sexual health and chemsex.
RFSL's rådgivning (counselling) service also handles chemsex concerns and can provide support around the psychological dimensions.
Specialist Support
Venhälsan counselling service — direct first contact for chemsex and sexual health overlap.
RFSL Rådgivningen — individual counselling covering relationship issues, sexuality, mental health, and drug use. rfsl.se/rfsl-stockholm/radgivningen
Beroendemottagning (Addiction Outpatient) — public addiction treatment services accessible through your Vårdcentral with a remiss (referral). Assessment, counselling, and medical support for people who want to reduce or stop.
Needle exchange — services exist in Stockholm and major Swedish cities. Ask at your Vårdcentral, RFSL, or Venhälsan for the nearest.
PrEP During Chemsex
Daily PrEP provides ongoing protection through sessions. If you use on-demand PrEP (2+1+1), the pre-sex doses must actually be taken — which can be harder during spontaneous or extended sessions. Talk to Venhälsan about which PrEP approach best fits your pattern of use.
Emergency Contacts
112 — ambulance 1177 — healthcare advice Karolinska Huddinge Infektionsakuten (08-585 800 00, 24h) — for PEP after a chemsex session with potential HIV exposure
See also: GHB/GBL guide | Chemsex safety | PrEP mechanics