Introduction
Delivered in partnership by GMHC and Antidote at London Friend, its purpose was to deepen understanding of the chemsex landscape in London, examine the impact on individuals and services, and strengthen the response around harm reduction, treatment, and support.
GMHC and Antidote would like to thank all the speakers and volunteers who participated. Volunteers from both organisations were present to assist delegates, signpost, organise refreshments and lunch, and set up the conference the afternoon before, and afterwards.
The Conference was delivered at Camden Town Hall, WC1H 9JE on 10 October 2025, and repeated 14 November, and 16 January 2026 (9:30am–4:30pm). The Conferences were sponsored by Gilead with thanks, with support from Creative Conceptions and Beauty and Pampering.
Evaluation Summary
Excluding speakers and guests, 240 delegates attended the three Conferences. This evaluation summarises feedback from 100 delegates. Overall satisfaction was exceptionally high. Organisation, speaker expertise, relevance of material, and achievement of conference purpose all scored ratings 4.7-4.9/ 5 with strong performance (typically 80%+ ‘strongly agree’). Retention was high, with 88% attending the full day, indicating sustained engagement.
The strongest feedback related to speaker quality, breadth of expertise, and the learning value of concise, well-paced presentations. Delegates consistently reported leaving inspired, better informed, and more confident to apply learning in practice. Clinical and service-focused content, particularly GHB/ GBL dependence, emergency care, and specialist services, was repeatedly highlighted as impactful. Networking and the cross-sector mix in the room were also valued highly.
The principal area for improvement relates to venue capacity and comfort. The most frequent low-point comments concerned the room being too small, cramped seating, and external noise or distractions. Secondary issues included a desire for more time per speaker, fewer speakers with greater depth, and more interactive formats such as workshops or breakout groups. Technical issues were reported by a small minority. The organisers acknowledge this.
Comparing 2024 and 2025 Conference Evaluations
Overall satisfaction increased from 2024 to 2025: 2024 was “rated highly” in narrative terms; 2025 shows quantitatively exceptional satisfaction (mean 4.7–4.9/5; and 98–99% agreement on core measures. Positive trends: stronger evidence of impact, clearer strengths (speaker quality, relevance, learning value), higher retention (88% full-day attendance in 2025), and more actionable feedback. The conference has matured from a successful pilot (2024) into a highly rated flagship event (2025). While it’s outgrown its infrastructure, this is being addressed with a new central London venue in 2026.
London Chemsex Conference 2025-6 Evaluation Report
Details of 2026 Conference here