PNP In Our Own Words

Real stories from queer folks who’ve experienced party n’ play (PnP)—whether it was part of their nightlife or something they’ve moved on from. Each person shares honestly about what PnP meant to them, what they’ve learned, and how they’re finding connection, growth, and safety on their own terms. 

Kevin L 

Kevin opened up about the deep feeling of not fitting in—something many queer people face. For a while, PnP gave him a sense of connection and community. But when the high faded, the loneliness returned even stronger. He talked about how hard it was to ask for help, especially while feeling judged for using drugs. Taking that first brave step toward healing changed everything. 

Pete 

Pete shared how he turned things around after struggling with using sex and drugs to cope with loneliness. His turning point came when he started helping at a supervised consumption site. Supporting others gave him a renewed sense of purpose—and helped him reconnect with hope. 

Dylan 

Dylan talked about how PnP made him feel more confident about his looks and fitting in. But it also kept him trapped in a cycle of hiding and using. What helped him truly like himself was finding new ways to manage his drug use. That journey led him toward sobriety and a more honest relationship with who he is. 

Mike 

Mike reminds us that quitting isn’t the only way to move forward. His story is all about harm reduction—setting personal goals while managing use. He sees pleasure as a valid reason some people party, sharing how “intimate, piggy nights” can feel empowering. This video centers pleasure and safety as both being possible, and that abstinence does not need to be the only goal. 

Matt 

Rich or poor, young or old—PnP doesn’t target one group. In Matt’s video, he talks about how widespread it is, and how the real problem isn’t who’s doing it—it’s that almost everyone who parties don’t get the support they need. He’s passionate about fixing that gap and making help more available. 

Colin 

Colin doesn’t hold back. “People are going to fuck and do drugs,” he says. His focus isn’t on stopping PnP—it’s on making it safer. He challenges the shame around gay sex and reminds us that stigma often pushes people toward PnP in the first place. To Colin, fighting stigma is key to real safety. 

Tim 

Tim, a longtime activist in Toronto’s gay community, has seen how crystal meth use can harm lives—causing people to lose work, housing, and health. But he believes judgment only makes things worse. His video is about choosing friendship over shame and why ending stigma is not just kind, but necessary. 

Kevin D. 

Kevin’s story highlights how HIV and PnP sometimes overlap. He shares how grief turned partying into survival, and how his HIV diagnosis was the wake-up call he needed. He wants people to know that using drugs doesn’t make anyone less human—and that love and support can make all the difference. 

Shazad 

Shazad talks proudly about how PnP fits into his life. He’s a gay man of colour, an escort, and someone who uses drugs. He stresses the importance of open support networks and talks about how having people to talk to openly helps him thrive. Shazad shows us that living authentically with PnP is possible when accountability is present. 

Jordan 

Jordan challenges the idea that drugs are the biggest danger in PnP. For him, the real harm came from shame and silence. After being judged harshly by loved ones, he felt forced to hide his use. It was only after the loss of a close friend that he found new purpose—speaking up for honest, caring conversations about PnP that replace judgment with compassion. 

Guy 

Guy’s story is about staying informed, connected, and supported while navigating PnP. What started as a search for pleasure led to serious consequences, including trouble at work. But he didn’t let that define him. By embracing harm reduction, he made changes and found a healthier balance—where PnP no longer had control over his life.