Exploring chemsex, queer health, and digital worlds through my PhD.

I am a doctoral researcher at Queen Mary, University of London, exploring how digital platforms shape chemsex practices, queer health, and public health policy. My academic path has been deliberately interdisciplinary, spanning psychology, clinical practice, including visual cultures and is grounded in both frontline healthcare experience and lived community knowledge. This perspective allows me to approach chemsex not only as a clinical or behavioural issue, but also as a deeply social and cultural phenomenon.

Chemsex remains one of the most urgent challenges in queer public health today. While mainstream health communication often relies on clinical messaging, it frequently fails to resonate with the communities most affected. At the same time, digital platforms such as hook-up apps play a powerful but under-researched role in shaping behaviours, risk perceptions, and community norms. My research seeks to address this gap by investigating how digital cultures influence harm reduction, mental health, and policy responses, and by amplifying the voices of those most impacted.

Through my PhD, I aim to contribute to more effective, evidence-based, and culturally relevant public health strategies - strategies that move beyond stigma, speak honestly about pleasure, and engage queer communities on their own terms.