Nights Out - Fun, Fear, and Prisons

Does getting high and engaging in stimulating sex sound like the best night of your life? For some gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBMSM), this can become a lifestyle. The presentation will give a brief introduction to the world of chemsex, its participants, and the substances most commonly involved. So, what are we doing to help? This research aims to acknowledge the importance of understanding the context behind participation.

Even in these challenging economic times pubs, bars and nightclubs across the UK will host hundreds of thousands of adults enjoying a night out on any day of the week. Most make it home safely. However, a tiny proportion don’t, and are reported missing to the police. Sadly, some are found dead. My work shows how research can help to guide police decision-making about risk and where to search, so that loved ones find answers, even when it’s the worst possible outcome.

I served as a prison officer (2003 - 2009) in a male adult prison in Midlands UK. In 2013 I did a PhD researching peer support work in prisons/prisoners. Prisoners have hidden depths of kindness, care and altruism which needs greater visibility to challenge negative representations. I therefore use both my background of being a prison officer and my PhD research in teaching, further research and writing/publishing, drawing on my 'insider' positionality and 'lived experiences'. For example, being a gay female prison officer and experiences of suicide/self harm. I use autoethnography as a way to