An article published in a thematic issue “Sexualities and sexual health: public health issues across the lifespan” of the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, highlights the diversity of practices of consumption of psychoactive products in a sexual context, which also concern other social groups than men who have sex with men. These people who consume psychoactive products also more often have high scores for depressive disorders.
Introduction – The use of psychoactive products in a sexual context is taken into account by health policies almost exclusively from the angle of the practice of chemsex, which refers to a specific form of product use among men who have sex with men (MSM). Recent studies call for documenting the extent and diversity of practices of consumption of psychoactive products in a sexual context in the general population, in order to develop health policies adapted to each public. The objective of this article is precisely to propose a measurement of these practices and to map their diversity through prevalence indicators.
Method – The data collected on the subject in the Context of Sexualities in France survey (CSF-2023) makes it possible to propose prevalence indicators in the general population aged 18 to 89. Several types of questions addressed the link between consumption of psychoactive products and sexuality.
Results – The use of psychoactive products in a sexual context remains a very minority practice. However, they are more common among people who have already consumed products. People who have already had sexual relations with partners of the same sex (MSM and FSF) report these practices more often, but they exist in the entire population.
Women are particularly affected by the consumption of alcohol and/or cannabis. People who use psychoactive products more often have high scores for depressive disorders. MSM are the most numerous to be affected by the consumption of psychoactive products. These results reinforce the need to put in place appropriate prevention measures.
Conclusion – The results highlight the diversity of practices of consumption of psychoactive products in a sexual context, which also concern other social groups than MSM. Further studies would be necessary to better document the specificities of uses in different social groups.
Consumption of products in a sexual context: understanding the diversity of practices based on the Context of sexualities in France 2023 survey. Marion Serot et al. Center for the Study of Social Movements (Cems), School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (Ehess), Paris
BEH n°12-13, Sexualities and sexual health: public health issues across the lifespan, May 2026
