The primary aim of the Symposium is to strengthen and increase the impact and effectiveness of chemsex-related interventions, programmes, health services, and policy changes in Asia Pacific. 

Specifically, it will seek to: 

• Increase participants’ understanding of the diverse chemsex practices, drug policies, and healthcare systems in Asia Pacific and their implications for people-centered, community-led models of health service deliveries, including harm reduction services and policies in the region; 

• Foster a collaborative environment and networking space for chemsex care and research among community members, HCP, CSOs, NGOs, researchers, policy makers, technical and funding agencies, and other relevant stakeholders in the region; and 

• Promote innovative, evidence-based, and people-centered harm reduction practices and programmings with a focus on improving the quality of life and mental wellbeing of people and communities engaging in chemsex practices.  

This symposium intends on exploring the following topics but not limited to:  

• Patterns of drug use in chemsex in Asia-Pacific and gaps in healthcare and policy interventions, with a specific focus on chemsex in adolescents, transgender communities and men who have sex with men;

• Pleasure-based, people-centered, and evidence-based holistic harm reduction services, including HIV/STI, mental health, and other needed health services for the most vulnerable populations in chemsex - current models, challenges, lessons learned, and opportunities; 

• Examinations of drug policies from within and outside the region, and their implications for delivering community- and facility-based chemsex-related interventions, include the case of Thailand’s marijuana policy and impacts on chemsex practices and related interventions thus far.