CHEMSEX STORIES ZINE
Profits from this 32-page zine — featuring artwork, photography, poetry, and written testimonials — go to Controlling Chemsex.
Controlling Chemsex provides support, education, and harm reduction resources for people affected by chemsex addiction.
The first edition, limited to 100 copies, sold out.
This second edition, featuring an alternative cover option, is limited to 500 copies.
Click the product to view the featured artists and full contents.
CHEMSEX STORIES PROJECT
For the immersive exhibition in Soho, London, CHEMTRAIL: This is Killing Us , Artist Matt Ford brought together and recorded seven first-hand accounts from people with lived experience of chemsex. These were combined with perspectives from medical professionals and recovery workers to confront the addiction, mental health issues, and tragedies that continue to shape this often hidden culture.
In the accompanying zine, released under the same title, Matt collected work from the other artists involved along with excerpts from the videos.
The zine acts as an exhibition archive, informative physical object, and piece of artwork in its own right.The aim is to inform, inspire, and challenge perceptions of the chemsex phenomenon.
Commissioned by Impulse London, the exhibition and launch event brought the community together to address the stigma and shame felt by people asking for help.
WATCH IN FULL: CHEMSEX STORIES
Originally conceived as a multi-screen installation at the exhibition, five of the seven short files are available to watch here:
CHEMSEX STORIES: 01 GIULIO
Mr Gay Europe 2011 shares his insights to living with a partner who also engaged in chemsex and the spiral that created.
Giulio is now an advocate for chemsex recovery.
CHEMSEX STORIES. 02 WAYNE.
Recovery Worker Wayne shares his lived experience and the and the darker and sometimes more dangerous side of the chemsex lifestyle.He also delves into how that led him down the path of personal recovery and how he helps others going though the same thing.
Ben, an Attitude award-winning therapist, shares his thoughts on navigating shame and finding help.
After secretly facilitating his own drug habitat in the past and overcoming it, he now helps others navigate their recovery and get the most out of life.
CHEMSEX STORIES. 04 CHARLIE
After being diagnosed with HIV, Charlie found solace in the wrong crowd which led him down the wrong path.
After breaking away from the problems, Charlie is now an advocate for chemsex recovery and is developing an app, GLYNDA, that will help others find help.
CHEMSEX STORIES. 06 DR MAURICIO
Dr Mauricio Alvarez, Clinical Psychologist, shares his insight into the reasons for addiction and behaviours associated with chemsex and lists the best paths and places to get help.