Drug use

Drug use is never without risk. Among other things, there is a risk of becoming addicted. You may also find it more difficult to apply your safer sex strategy. This page is not intended to encourage you to use substances. However, if you have decided to do so or are already using drugs, you will find useful information here on how you can reduce health risks and what you should do in an emergency.

Drug use

Drug use is never without risk. Among other things, there is a risk of becoming addicted. You may also find it more difficult to apply your safer sex strategy. This page is not intended to encourage you to use substances. However, if you have decided to do so or are already using drugs, you will find useful information here on how you can reduce health risks and what you should do in an emergency.

Fancy spring? Spring check! HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia - get tested now!

Regular testing is part of this: We recommend it, go for an HIV test at least once a year. Take this opportunity to get tested for other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia. You can find test centres from, for example, AIDS service organisations, gay projects and health authorities.

My choice. Your respect.

Those who want to HIV protects - regardless of the safer sex method - deserves respect. Insults, marginalisation and discrimination, on the other hand, have no place when it comes to safer sex. That's why we have launched the Safer Sex 3.0 campaign this year under the motto "My choice. Your respect." .

 

We also promote a self-confident approach to the chosen method. Of course, it can happen that you are rejected because the other person doesn't like your safer sex method. If this happens to you, you shouldn't be annoyed. After all, this is not a personal rejection.

Safer Use

Hepatitis viruses can be transmitted when injecting, snorting and smoking drugs, and HIV can also be transmitted when injecting. To minimise the risk, you should only ever use your own consumption utensils such as injecting equipment, pipes, sniffing or drawing tubes. Do not share or pass on used equipment!
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Risk minimisation

There is no such thing as zero risk when using drugs. However, if you take drugs, you can do a lot to minimise the risks as much as possible: Find out about the effects and interactions of the substances you want to take, avoid using new substances alone if possible and be careful when dosing and topping up.
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Interactions

If you consume different drugs at the same time or in close succession, dangerous interactions and even drug emergencies are possible! There can also be interactions between drugs and medication, e.g. drugs can reduce the effectiveness of medication or medication can increase the effect of drugs.
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Drugs & safer sex

Under the influence of substances (drugs, alcohol, etc.), you may do things or allow things to happen that you would not do or want to do if you were sober. Sex in combination with drugs is also known as chemsex. Clarify beforehand what you do or don't want to do and which safer sex method you use.
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What to do in a drug emergency?

Call 112 in the event of an acute drug emergency! Avoid the words drugs and police, but say, for example, "Unconscious person, possibly in shock". Stay with the person until the ambulance arrives. In the event of respiratory arrest, artificial respiration and cardiac massage can save lives.
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What is HIV? What is AIDS?

The HI virus was discovered in 1983 and identified as the cause of Aids in the same year. This video explains what HIV does in the body and when we start talking about AIDS.

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During the test

"I get tested regularly, it makes me feel better," says Enrico. To test for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, he prefers to use the services offered by AIDS service organisations and health authorities. In the video, we accompany him to the test.

Further offers

We offer various counselling services. Whether online, by phone or in a live chat: experienced and trained counsellors are available to answer all your questions about HIV, STIs, chemsex and mental well-being. You can seek help from the anti-discrimination centre if you have experienced discrimination due to your HIV infection.