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About chemsex

David Stuart

GMHC was shocked and saddened to learn that David Stuart died suddenly on 10 January 2022 aged 54.

David was known to many for his pioneering work in chemsex and for raising awareness of this challenging field and credited with coining the term 'chemsex'. An activist, advocate, worker, lecturer, researcher and campaigner, David undertook the work with passion, empathy, and kindness while also acknowledging his own struggles.

He joined London Friend as a volunteer in 2007, later becoming its training and outreach manager. In 2014, he joined 56 Dean Street as its substance misuse lead specialising in chemsex. David was also an advocate speaking at conferences, collaborating on research papers, his work key in raising chemsex as a health issue. He has left a rich and complex legacy for his peers, community, allies and friends.

David advised on several short chemsex harm reduction films for the Gay Men's Health Collective including "Triptych" and "Alchemy". He also collaborated on two safer slamming (injecting) shorts on crystal meth and mephedrone. Viewed thousands of times, they are believed to be the first safer injecting films for gay men. He was always a joy to have on set. GMHC also made "Chemsex: An Intervention" for his own body of work, embedded below.

Chemsex: A Brief Intervention | David Stuart | 2013

Chemsex; origins of the word, a history of the phenomenon, and a respect to the culture | PDF | David Stuart | 2019

A Loud Exhaust by David Stuart

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