"Sex, Drugs and Dopamine: What Chemsex Does To the Brain"

""Sex, Drugs and Dopamine: What Chemsex Does To the Brain"""
With Dr. Stephen Naulls

Summary

'Sex and drugs are two of the most powerful forces the brain can experience. What happens when we repeatedly pair them together? Chemsex describes sex that takes place under the influence of specific drugs, most commonly methamphetamine (“Tina", mephedrone (“MCAT”) and GHB or GBL (“G”).

The term emerged in the UK over the past two decades and is often associated with gay and bisexual men, though the motivations and experiences involved are more varied than headlines suggest.

For many, chemsex is about pleasure, confidence and intimacy. For others, it can become linked to harm, dependency or mental health crises. Despite growing media attention, we still know surprisingly little about what repeatedly pairing sex and powerful psychoactive drugs does to the brain. Meanwhile, national data show that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are nearly three times more likely to die from drug-related causes than heterosexual people. Drug related deaths are rising, and patterns of sexualised drug use are part of that picture. Yet the science has lagged behind the headlines.

In this talk, I will share findings from the world’s first dedicated brain imaging study of people who engage in chemsex. Using advanced MRI techniques, ‘Chemsex and the Brain' are beginning to explore how reward systems, motivation circuits and decision making networks may adapt when sexual cues and drug effects become tightly bound together.

What we are discovering challenges simple narratives and opens new questions about addiction, desire and how the brain learns.'

Bio
Dr Stephen Naulls is an NIHR-funded Academic Clinical Fellow in mental health and a Core Psychiatry Trainee (ST2).

Stephen studied medicine at Imperial College London, also completing an intercalated BSc in Neuroscience and Mental Health. He later gained an MSc in Health Policy at Imperial, with a dissertation focussed on harm reduction for underserved communities.

His current research focuses on addiction in the LGBTQ+ community, aiming to combine both neuroscience and population-health driven approaches. He is currently leading the world’s first brain imaging study assessing the long-term impact of chemsex on brain structure and function as part of his 'Chemsex and the Brain' research initiative:

CHEMSEXBRAIN.com (@ChemsexBrain)

Venue:
Central London, TBC


Event Running Time:
(we recommend arriving at 6:30pm if you're eating, and 7pm if drinks only)
Doors from 6pm
Introduction: 7:25pm
Lecture: 7:30pm
Q&A: 8:10pm

Food:
If you plan on eating at the venue, we recommend arriving as early as possible so the kitchen can get your order out before the talk starts.

FAQs:

What is Pints of Knowledge?

Pints of Knowledge is a series of public talks where experts, researchers, and big thinkers share fascinating ideas all in the relaxed setting of a pub. We bring brilliant minds and curious audiences together over a pint, covering topics from science and politics to history, art, and beyond.

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At each Pints of Knowledge event, you’ll hear engaging talks (approx. 40 minutes) from expert speakers on fascinating topics — followed by an audience Q&A (approx. 20 minutes). The vibe is informal and social, set in a pub where you can grab a drink, meet interesting people, and enjoy big ideas in a relaxed setting.

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