FOI request (FOIR-798448236)

Services, policies and pathways for sexualised drug use

Requested Fri 13 February 2026
Responded Wed 25 February 2026

Dear FOI Officer,

 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information relating to chemsex or sexualised drug use within your local authority area which can be held across various services, including but not limited to sexual health, mental health, drug and alcohol services and A&E.

 

This is part of a research project being conducted at King’s College London. Please let me know if you have any questions about the information being requested or need any clarification.

 

 

FOI questions:

 

1.      Policies and Strategies

 

a.      Does the local authority have any policies, strategies, or guidelines that specifically reference any of the following (please say Yes or No for each):

 

-          Chemsex 

-          Sexualised drug use

-          Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) / gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)

-          Crystal methamphetamine use

-          Mephedrone use

-          LGBTQ+ health issues

 

b.      If yes to any of the above, please provide 1) the title(s), 2) publication date(s) and 3) a copy or, or public link to the document

 

2.      Services and Support

 

1. Does your local authority commission or fund any services that provide support specifically for any of the following (e.g. harm reduction, sexual health, mental health, or community support) (please say Yes or No for each):

 

-          Chemsex 

-          Sexualised drug use

-          Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) / gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)

-          Crystal methamphetamine use

-          Mephedrone use

-          LGBTQ+ health issues

 

b.      If yes to any of the above, please provide 1) the name(s) of the service(s), 2) provider organisation(s) 3) duration of the current contract(s) and 4) whether the service is delivered as part of a wider contract (e.g. drug and alcohol treatment, sexual health services)

 

3. For those that you stated no to for question 2a above, are the following issues supported under existing services (e.g. general drug and alcohol services, sexual health clinics)? Please say Yes or No, or mark Not Applicable if you said Yes for question 2a above.

 

-          Chemsex 

-          Sexualised drug use

-          Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) / gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)

-          Crystal methamphetamine use

-          Mephedrone use

-          LGBTQ+ health issues

 

d. If yes to any of the above, please identify which services would typically manage such cases.

 

3.      Pathways and Referral Processes

 

1. Does your local authority or its commissioned services have a care pathway or referral protocol for any of the following (please say Yes or No for each):

 

-          Chemsex 

-          Sexualised drug use

-          Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) / gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)

-          Crystal methamphetamine use

-          Mephedrone use

-          LGBTQ+ health issues

 

c.      If yes to any of the above, please provide a copy of the pathway/protocol or a brief description if a document is not available

 

4. Are there any joint working arrangements or data-sharing agreements between drug and alcohol services, sexual health services and mental health services specifically relating to chemsex or sexualised drug use? Please state Yes or No.

 

5. If Yes to question 3c, please provide details or copies of relevant agreements (if not exempt).

 

4.      Data and Monitoring

 

1. Does the local authority or its commissioned services collect data on service users presenting with chemsex or sexualised drug use issues? Please state Yes or No. Note: we recognise that there are no ICD-10 codes or nationally recognised format to record chemsex or sexualised drug use related issues therefore if this information is collected within your local authority, it would be through a unique system that was set up locally.

 

2. If Yes to question 4a, please indicate:
• Which service(s) collect this data;
• What indicators or categories are used (e.g. “chemsex,” “GHB use,” “sexualised drug use”);
• The total number of clients recorded under those indicators for each of the last three years (if available).

 

3. If No to question 4a, please confirm whether there are any plans to include it in future data collection systems or reporting frameworks. Please state Yes or No.

 

4. If Yes to question 4c, please provide any documents related to these plans or state any details about the future plans (e.g. when it will start, what data will be collected and from what services etc)

 

5.      Additional Context

                                           

1. Please provide any publicly available reports, needs assessments, or evaluations produced or commissioned by the local authority since 2020 that include information about chemsex or sexualised drug use, GHB/GBL, crystal methamphetamine, mephedrone use or LGBTQ+ needs.

 

                                                                           

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Response

Hastings Borough Council holds no information in respect of this request.

Please refer your request to East Sussex County Council: eastsussex.gov.uk