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Chemsex trending in Sri Lanka

4 November 2022 06:04 am - 31     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka has been through many storms in recent months with the economic crisis, political crisis, a change in leadership, protests, a rise in HIV and now the latest to hit the country’s youth - a rise in the dangerous chemical sex, especially among Colombo youth.

The National STD and AIDS Control Program Director Dr. Rasanjali Hettiarachchi told Daily Mirror that chemical sex among youth aged from 18 to 30 years had seen an increase and although this form of dangerous sex was being practised before, it had now seen an increase with the usage of ICE drugs.

With the increasing use of alcohol and certain drugs, chemical sex, more popularly known as chemsex has now started trending in the country raising the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.

“Chemsex is also very often practised between men (MSM: Men who have Sex with Men) who engaged in sex after intoxication,” Dr.Rasanjali said.

Chemsex is defined as using certain substances immediately before or during sexual activities to facilitate, prolong, and/or intensify the sexual experience, mainly by some communities of men who have sex with men (MSM).

Dr. Hettiarachchi said that many youth groups also engage in this kind of sexual behaviour, especially within Colombo. Those groups who use drugs such as methamphetamine (ice) for their intoxication engage in chemsex, not knowing its dangers. Most of the groups are located in the Western Province and in the Gampaha district.

Medical sources said that four substances such as methamphetamine (ICE), mephedrone, and ketamine were typically associated with chemsex and since ICE was available among drug dealers, there was an increase in usage among the youth who thereafter engaged in sexual behaviour.

"There are groups in Colombo who have sex after taking drugs, and therefore there is an increase in spreading chemsex in Colombo," Dr.Hettiarachchi said.

Sources said that Chemsex which had now become a cause of concern may also be one of the reasons why there is an increase in HIV today. There is also an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STI) such as gonorrhoea and syphilis among the youth, sources said.

Dr. Hettiarachchi said that patients who came to them for treatment often did not reveal how they became infected with such a disease. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)


  Comments - 31

  • Ranjan Friday, 04 November 2022 06:47 AM

    Nice promotional article. Not heard of but good explanation to promote. Ice seem popular and seem available and maybe just a handful are rounded up by authorities for name sake. Lokkas and authorities are looked after with each other. Nothing to worry about. Good campaign for tourism. Thanks to DM.

    Nilmini Welivita Friday, 04 November 2022 07:09 AM

    In our times, chemical sex was having sex in the chemistry class. How things have changed.

    We are the poo maama! Friday, 04 November 2022 07:33 AM

    Don't worry; Our Govt. hospitals waiting to give you free treatment for whatever disease you carry, after you deliberately get infected. They will also give free education up to degree level, even if you waste your time on the other activities. Our foolish public will pay for your nefarious activities. We can always beg from other countries, if we run short. Because, WE ARE MAL MAAMA.

    Punchi Friday, 04 November 2022 08:05 AM

    Why are all these bad things happening to our Buddha thrice visited and blessed 2600 year old Buddhist foremost paradise. We only seem to have an abundance of disease, food insecurity, moral and financial bankruptcy etc. Why have you abandoned us O divine one ?

    ~AD~ Friday, 04 November 2022 11:55 AM

    That's a weird statement. You seem to have confused religions. The Buddha is not some immortal, divine being. He was a 'man' who passed away over 2500 years ago.

    Shelly Belly Friday, 04 November 2022 05:16 PM

    You're praying to the wrong man. No wonder all the mess in the country. Buddhism is a philosophy. There is no God in it. It's a self-help spiritual process to enlightenment. The gods in Buddhism are Hindu gods and deities, lesser gods and demon gods. Pray to the Almighty through Jesus Christ the True Light and see what happens.

    Tissa Fernando Friday, 04 November 2022 08:22 AM

    Who are the drug dealers? Is CID not aware of who they are? How come after so many arrests and deaths of some drug dealers , the drugs are in good supply ? Is it because the powerful drug dealers use police to kill their competitors? Then we only need to look at the politicos. Why those who protest against everything else , are not protesting against the drug business?

    Shelly Belly Friday, 04 November 2022 08:30 AM

    My gosh. Living 20 years in the U.S. and I hear about this new trend from Sri Lanka. We think western countries are bad but good old Sri Lanka 2500 years of culture and all is ahead of everyone else!!

    Aruna Paul Friday, 04 November 2022 08:52 AM

    Is this an advertisement or news item. It us better not to highlight these with photos/ images of the symptom as that will become an advertisement. Please focus on the statistics and the dangers without trying to highlight how it us done and by whom... Media should be responsible in the way they publish these. In 1983/1984 there was such massive publicity by media/ news print in heroin and that is one of the reasons (there were other reasons ) how the drug addiction became so wide spread.

    D P P Prasad Friday, 04 November 2022 09:12 AM

    The police and the anti narcotics bureau should intensify the raids being conducted against the drugs adductors. Further the awareness programmes should be conducted throughout the country targeting the youngsters who are susceptible to the narcotics.Besides the education ministry also should conduct awareness programmes in the leading schools elaborating the horror of the use of narcotics

    Mulu Peyar Friday, 04 November 2022 10:25 AM

    These sort of non-stories should ideally start with the preface of our 2500 year old culture and the great hydro tanks of yesteryear.

    Lank Friday, 04 November 2022 10:26 AM

    Apply Islamic rule of laws on those people and then it will all disappear soon within one or two years and yet you are afraid of Islamic law and shariah ...that is why this kind of social problem is emerging.....we should protect our youth and community form this and it would be better to talk some strong action on this ... prevention is better than cure so to prevent this we should take some action

    NightOwl Friday, 04 November 2022 10:39 AM

    Call me names if you want, Gays are not normal, they are a curse to the community

    Shirantha Friday, 04 November 2022 10:41 AM

    Ohh this is good for our new president!! Men to men .. because he is very familiar with it

    zooni Friday, 04 November 2022 10:48 AM

    The worst sin ever recorded in human histry is sodomy, if we dont stop before its too late we have to face major disasters near future.

    KD Friday, 04 November 2022 10:52 AM

    Lack of sex is arguably the biggest problem in Sri Lanka making people frustrated and seeking relief in unhealthy ways. Why look down upon such a natural and necessary act? We embrace corruption but look down on sex? Promote safe and plentiful sex.

    Roisin Friday, 04 November 2022 11:09 AM

    Lank: I am sure you are not a woman.

    Disgusted Friday, 04 November 2022 11:51 AM

    Nilmini Welivita would be interesting to know what school you attended?. I have never heard of Chemical Sex till I read this article and if you say chemical sex was conducted in your chemistry class I wonder where the chemistry teacher was and the rest of the girls in the classroom. I can only assume your mind must have been in the gutter while typing your response.

    Disgusted Friday, 04 November 2022 11:58 AM

    Punchi, the only reason the world is in the situation it is in today, was all foretold and in detail. If you want to know more about what is to come in the future, read the book of revelations in the "Holy Bible". God Bless.

    Disgusted Friday, 04 November 2022 12:01 PM

    Aruna Paul, how else do you expect the masses to be educated about this new chemical sex issue facing the country?. People get educated in schools, but media print and or online is also a form of educating the masses around the world, as there may be thousands of chemical sex workers in the country who have their own reason/s for not seeking medical help.

    Disgusted Friday, 04 November 2022 12:07 PM

    Authorities say those who have sought treatment for this new sex trend refuse to relay how they contracted same, this article clearly states how it is contracted, more important is grilling the persons who seek treatment and finding out more details of who, where and when these practices are carried out, raid the place arrest the lot and bring them before the courts. I would imagine some of this chemical sex players may be getting paid bringing in a new form of prostitution.

    Aram Friday, 04 November 2022 12:20 PM

    This is an advertisement by health dept and doctors. Men vs men intercourse is very less in SL

    sanath Friday, 04 November 2022 12:35 PM

    Oy Lank with Islamic Sharia law in full force Maldives has a huge drug problem, because it was done by Abdul Gayoom to keep his citizens High all the time so that they won't protest against his dictatorial rule for 35 years

    sam Friday, 04 November 2022 12:39 PM

    What Sharia law are you talking of, Afghanistan is the biggest opium producer in the world

    DW Friday, 04 November 2022 12:39 PM

    This is nothing new. These were practiced even 2500 years ago. If you knew what sort of life that prince Siddhartha had before he left the palace, you would be shocked. Everything's clearly documented but never taught at schools when you study Buddhism because Sri Lankan teachers don't want students to know the true reality.

    Soma Friday, 04 November 2022 02:04 PM

    What a joke by suggesting Islamic law.. Look at the countries with them. In the other hand most of the dealers are form that communities and they want to disttoy the other communities. This happened in Sydney and UK as well. Have to weed out the rascals first.

    Lamk Friday, 04 November 2022 02:33 PM

    I think this is not practiced in many Muslim countries like Saudi and other countries due to hard punishment...they will kill them if they found out ...behind the door they will do it but not in public.. it is haram and they will be killed if they do it in public

    Shirani Nilanthi Friday, 04 November 2022 04:10 PM

    It said that govt. running short of chemicals for various tests, but there are enough test tubes in chemistry lab.

    Dan Friday, 04 November 2022 05:19 PM

    @Punchi - Actually the Buddha gave all of us a choice - a path to follow IF we want to. It's in our own hands. If you wish to follow the right path, he gave us the way to achieve the very best results. He was another human being just like all of us, not a God or an assigned being from Almighty. The difference is, he learnt the best possible way to live life and achieve eternal Bliss through the concept of nothingness. That's eternal Bliss.

    GHT Saturday, 05 November 2022 11:01 PM

    When the US came into Sri Lanka and they are praised by our own nationals who should invite such a BAD end. Await, more such critical position to be faced by our society.

    umas Sunday, 06 November 2022 03:48 AM

    We in saudi have a wonderful time after having chemsex missionary my favorite position


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