IF YOU DO CAM MODELING

ESTABLISHING BOUNDARIES:

Outline your boundaries at the start. If a viewer crosses one, be firm in a way that others see as fair and take heed from.
Camming platforms prohibit substance use and may ban cammers for breaking this rule. Some cam models, however, feel the need to use substances to get in the mood for performing due to the stress of model competition on the platform.
It's important to establish boundaries when you will/won’t work and for how long, rather than going until a set amount is made.
If you do meet a viewer in-person at some point, the “Buddy System" is the practice of you telling a friend where you are, and the viewer’s details, with the expectation of you calling back once you are in a safe environment, otherwise the friend will travel to the location to check if you are ok. If not found, then escalating to actions such as calling around or making a report of a missing person. This system is often done so the viewer is aware a friend is looking out for you to potentially deter incidents. Some establish codewords meaning something is wrong and to call for help.
Separate times you make money from your partying, such weekdays vs. weekends or set days or times you keep for. Alternatively, only using chems in your personal life OR when you are camming or meeting a viewer.
Be cautious of drunk or high viewers who may behave unpredictably on substances.
Be aware of and avoid new substances on the scene until you know more about them.
To prevent closure, many platforms may be obligated to prevent opportunities for cam models to escort with viewers. Be aware of what your platform allows.
Recognize and leave triggering environments or networks to avoid dependence on substances building up.
Telling yourself "I can handle it, others don't know their limits" is how all habitual use is rationalized.
Regularly ask yourself 'Does *seeking support* trigger feelings of identity anxiety, more than pride in your self-awareness?' If anxiety to support is unchecked, what could prevent chems in your life getting unmanageable?
If you are expected to climax, consider practicing how you might fake it or an alternative if your body were unable to.
Prepare ahead what you would do and would say no to if your body were not performing for a performance, e.g. having an alternative lined up redirecting focus without that body pressure.
If you are given free chems ensure they know it is a gift, without you then owing them something in return. Outside of kink roleplay, feeling owned can lead to depression.

ANTI-SPIKING TIPS:

If partying, get your own chems and drinks, make small amounts so if they could have been spiked out of sight you can throw them out and remake them.
Don’t leave drinks or chems unattended. If they were, replace them as potentially spiked, regardless of your gender. Recall the UK’s worst perpetrator of this practice targeted random men.
Watch out for substances on someone’s bum or genitals, placed there to affect you non-consensually.
Watch out for non-consensual blowback kisses (blowing Tina smoke into your mouth).
If doing a show with another cam model, meeting a viewer in-person or hooking up, bring a few types of your own lube, so others can't have a preference to get you using theirs. It could be spiked, throwing off how much chems you are aware of taking.

CHEMS GOING WRONG TIPS

If you are meeting a viewer in-person who experiences psychosis, communicate calmly and clearly, take them to a calm environment away from the sex setting, with TV /music turned off. Call 999 if necessary.
Have Naloxone in the house as a precaution against overdosing on opioids (such as heroin or fentanyl).
If a viewer you have met in-person overdoses, don't leave them alone. Walk them around, keep them awake if unconscious, put them in the recovery position, call for help.
The presence of chems, sexual performance or service situations (most aren't illegal in the UK) does NOT mean ambulances report them to police or other services.
Struggle to find sex exciting without the use of chems, but currently need the extra money from hookup-for-reward on chems sessions? Consider trying to earn and save enough to enable yourself doing it without chems to get your body used to how it is again, even if for a week or so. The more familiar the feeling is again, the more reliable your body will be.
Explore the chems harm-reduction advice here, it’s easy for your information to become outdated without you being aware.

SAFER SEX TIPS:

“PrEP” is a pill routine that people who don't live with HIV can use to prevent them acquiring HIV. It is a useful failsafe for anyone having sex regularly, it is available free from the NHS and you can arrange to access it via your sexual health clinic.
After exposure to HIV you can go to an A&E or sexual health clinic and ask for "PEP", a month-long course to try to reverse the new acquisition. It must be started within 72 hours of exposure. The sooner it’s taken, the better the chances of success.
People living with HIV maintaining effective treatment are Undetectable, meaning their HIV cannot be passed on sexually.
"Window Periods" refers to the time taken before an STI exposure could react on a test result. It is unique to each test type used, this impacts who you should notify to have an STI test. Clinics can anonymously notify people for you if requested. Window Periods can affect how you interpret your own and other’s results, including on the “ID seen” Sexual Health certificates shown to each other before filming, by a number of cam performers.
Maintain a record of sexual encounters and contact information for a year. This way, if you test positive for an STI later, you can see who the relevant individuals are for notification to get tested. The list includes relevant exposures going back to your previous negative result for that STI, continuing further back for the duration of the Window Period for that STI’s test type.
"Shedding Durations" is the time after STI treatment where tests would still be reacting to the treated STI and it will affect how accurately you are aware of a new STI. Shedding Durations may affect your access to the “ID seen” Sexual Health certificates shown to each other before filming by a number of cam performers.
HPV vaccination ahead of exposure to different strains can prevent later need for cancer treatments of the cervix, anus, penis or throat, and can prevent genital warts. The vaccination is available to all genders from the NHS.
Some vaccines that others just like you found useful include the Hep B vaccine, Hep A vaccine, Covid vaccine, Mpox vaccine.
Explore the sexual health advice here, it’s easy for your information to become outdated without you being aware.

LEGAL RISK TIPS (UK):

Avoid bringing substances for a viewer in an in-person meet. The law would consider you a dealer, whereby the legal risks increase hugely.
The presence of chems, sexual performance or service situations (most aren't illegal in the UK) does NOT mean ambulances report them to police or other services.
You can access legal advice via the trade union “Sex Workers Union” who welcomes cam models along with adult content-creators, porn performers, gogos, professional doms, escorts & people who hookup for reward.
Being in a trade union before an incident makes it simpler for the union to respond fast when needed.
You can collectively organize in the union resisting corporate policies or laws that impact you negatively.

FINANCIAL RISK TIPS:

If a viewer is paying for time with you in-person privately accept payment upfront, potentially taking deposits to arrange time and cover travel costs reduce chances of being unpaid.
Budgeting reduces the chance the cost of your chems will affect you, meaning that the cam modeling is not earning you enough to pay your bills or losing you money compared to other work. Think about how long chems would stay in your system and whether you are going to earn during all of that time or only for an hour or two (e.g.). Being aware that content created when seemingly under the influence can be pulled down or reported, as sexual consent comes under question.
If you feel you need to be high to earn this money, but you spent the money on getting high, where is the moment when it becomes not worth doing?
Concerned about robbery or spending too much while high? Only bring the cash you intend to use out when partying.
For online transactions, if you are worried your bank may stop transfers from your camming platform consider using a burner PayPal account with details you don’t mind the bank seeing.
If you are taking tips off-platform be aware some platforms may ban you for this.
If taking tips off-platform consider using a burner PayPal account with details you don’t mind a viewer seeing but transferring money from it to your main one for withdrawals.
Be aware PayPal close accounts of cam models, porn performers, escorts etc. if they learn what you do.
Transfer funds straight away to a main PayPal account to avoid ‘chargeback’ robbery.
PayPal burner accounts need to be under a threshold amount (which varies) before ID verification is requested. Verification prevents the use of other names for your security, as names appear on transactions.
The Citizens Advice Bureau can help you determine if you're eligible for financial support due to a disability, neurodivergence, being a carer, or based on your income level.

WANTING CHANGE TIPS:

Many found it useful to be assessed for neurodivergence for advice on handling it. Some neurodivergence can also affect relationships to substances, e.g. ADHD is a lack of dopamine production.
Many found it useful to access therapy to overcome anything holding them back, such as trauma, hidden fears of failure, or internalized negativity etc.
If you are wanting change but keep facing rejection, consider asking someone who can help with tasks like your CV or cover letters, maybe AI could help with wording.
Reverse-recruiting can apply for civilian jobs for you if it is overwhelming you, be aware it is a paid service.
Consider finding work within a comfort zone that you can hold down while applying for or training for the jobs you really want if you're facing repeated rejection in a job search.
The Citizens Advice Bureau can help you determine if you're eligible for financial support due to a disability, neurodivergence, being a carer, or based on your income level.

USEFUL RESOURCES:

Sex Workers Union branch in BFAWU, Banana Milkshake, SWARM, SW Breakfasts, DecrimNowUK, ESWA, TAMPEP, davidstuart.org/care-plan, one to one support, Book: Thriving in Sex Work by Lola Davina.
At your sexual health clinic you can ask to speak to a Health Advisor, who can help with your chems use queries or help you find the type of support you are looking for.

We want to thank JASON DOMINO very deeply for helping so much with the preparation of this document. Jason is a UK sexual health and wellbeing advocate, sex work activist and porn star. He is also a notable member of The Sex Workers Union