Meth and gay men

I’ve seen gay men lose their minds, kill themselves, go to jail, steal or hurt others, and I’m humbled to acknowledge how close to death I probably came in my usage. A high from meth increases feelings of confidence while decreasing feelings of vulnerability.

This increased confidence may appeal to the LGBTQ+ community, as homophobia and other societal issues can decrease confidence and cause other mental health struggles.

For LGBTQ+ people who may be uncomfortable with parties but cannot find a supportive community elsewhere, crystal meth may provide temporary relief from their discomfort.

Meth reduces sexual inhibitions in particular, which is why some gay and bisexual men use it during “chemsex,” or sex under the influence of meth and other drugs.

Some may use meth as a way to deal with any internalized homophobia they may experience during sober sex.

Body Image In Gay And Transgender Communities

Many researchers have studied eating disorders among the LGBTQ+ community, attempting to determine if these populations have a higher risk of these disorders than non-LGBTQ+ peers.

Different studies have revealed different results.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that sexual minorities tend to enter treatment with more severe substance use disorders than those who identify as heterosexual, and I often find this to be the case in our patient population as well. And don’t forget, you don’t have to do this alone. Methamphetamine addiction is on the rise, and it’s hitting communities hard, especially the LGBTQ+ community.

November 30th is National Methamphetamine Awareness Day, a poignant time to raise the alarm about the devastating impact of this drug and the reasons behind its growing prevalence within the LGBTQ+ community.

Based on 2020 and 2021 data compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), sexual minorities (gay, lesbian, or bisexual) adults were at least twice as likely to use stimulants in the past year as their heterosexual counterparts.

Meth worked for me until it didn’t. Methamphetamine has a profound effect on dopamine activity, a brain chemical associated with motivation and the urge to repeat pleasurable activities. There are recovery groups around, including 12-step groups, that can provide even more structure and tools for living life in a different way.

Ultimately, recovery will require a brave step towards giving up something that once worked for you, but now no longer works and always leads to the same dark, anxiety filled place.

Its stimulant effects provided the energy that some men needed to participate in the party subculture.

Reduced Inhibitions

Meth, including crystal meth, temporarily reduces inhibitions. For example, utilizing effective, evidence-based therapeutic approaches, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).

DBT is among the techniques we use in our programs.

If you know of anyone that used to use, but no longer does, it can be a great help to reach out to that person and let them know what you’re going through. While I had been drinking, smoking pot, and dabbling in psychedelics and other drugs since high school, I discovered meth when in college through the gay club scene. You may even realize you need more accountability than just therapy alone.

Quitting meth may require them to cut ties and break contact with people they’ve come to love and care about deeply.

Our LGBTQ+ patients sometimes express fear they won’t be able to experience sex and other activities in the same way once they quit using meth. The world became grey, muted, and not pleasurable when I was off it.

I believe that the combination of meth’s extremely physically addicting qualities, along with the unique feelings that a gay man grows up with in terms of how he feels about himself, sets up a perfect marriage between gay men and meth use, and explains why the drug is so rampant in our community.

Over time, this effect can limit someone’s ability to experience pleasure from healthy activities.

The effects of chronic meth use and withdrawal also complicate the early treatment and recovery process. What’s a better way to keep things going, going, and still going? It’s imperative to have some kind of support and structure that can help keep you above water when you feel like you might drown.

It’s not always something that is a matter of will power. Growing up in a largely homophobic society, we can’t help but develop with feelings of shame about who we are, and even internalized homophobia. Other types of harm are more specific to the LGBTQ+ community.

Effects Of Crystal Meth

Crystal meth produces many mental and physical side effects.

The side effects of crystal meth include:

• rapid or irregular heart rate
• high blood pressure
• elevated body temperature
• erratic or violent behavior
• psychosis
• convulsions
• insomnia
• fatigue
• depression
• anxiety
• impaired thinking
• brain damage
• meth overdose

Increased Risk Of HIV Infection

Some may assume that drug use can only lead to HIV infection if the drug is injected.

Substance-free community centers provide a useful model that can be implemented on a larger scale.

While these are trying times, I sincerely believe we can make a profound difference by confronting this issue with compassion and understanding.

Meth use can increase that risk even further.

Find LGBTQ+-Friendly Rehab For Substance Abuse Recovery

No matter their sexual orientation, people who deal with addiction deserve quality substance abuse treatment.

Addiction is a difficult disorder, and a lack of access to affirming healthcare can make it even more complicated.

Spring Hill Recovery Center provides addiction treatment for people of all orientations, and we affirm LGBTQ+ identities.

Our treatment facility uses evidence-based interventions to help people overcome substance abuse.

If you or a loved one are dealing with meth abuse, contact Spring Hill today to learn about your treatment program options.

1. Journal Of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome — The Crisis We Are Not Talking About: One In Three Annual HIV Seroconversions Among Sexual And Gender Minorities Were Persistent Methamphetamine Usershttps://journals.lww.com/jaids/Fulltext/2020/11010/The_Crisis_We_Are_Not_Talking_About__One_in_Three.3.aspx
2. National Institute On Drug Abuse — Substance Use And SUDs In LGBTQ Populationshttps://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/substance-use-suds-in-lgbtq-populations
3. National Library Of Medicine — Characteristics of Transgender Individuals Entering Substance Abuse Treatmenthttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4130569/