Consumption of products in a sexual context: Understanding the diversity of practices based on the 2023 Survey on Sexualities in France

Introduction – The use of psychoactive substances in sexual contexts is addressed in public health policies almost exclusively through the lens of “chemsex,” a term referring to a specific form of substance use among men who have sex with men (MSM). Recent studies call for documenting the extent and diversity of psychoactive substance use in sexual contexts among the general population, in order to develop health policies tailored to each demographic. The objective of this article is precisely to propose a measure of these practices and to map their diversity through prevalence indicators.Method – Data collected on this topic in the Contexte des sexualités en France (CSF-2023) survey allow for the development of prevalence indicators in the general population aged 18 to 89. Several types of questions addressed the link between psychoactive substance use and sexuality.Results – The use of psychoactive substances in a sexual context remains a practice observed in a very small minority. However, it is more frequent among individuals who have previously used such substances. Individuals who have previously had sexual intercourse with same-sex partners (MSM and FSF) report these practices more often, but they exist across the entire population.Conclusion – The results highlight the diversity of psychoactive substance use practices in sexual contexts, which also involve social groups other than MSM. Further studies are needed to better document the specific characteristics of such use across different social groups.

Author(s): Serot Marion, Bellamine Rim, Andro Armelle

Publishing year: 2026

Pages: 265-273

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2026, n° 12-13, p. 265-273

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