|
from Medical Issues
Meth Use Surges Among Gay Men
April 11, 2007 - Last year, 6,360 gay men were tested by the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center for sexually transmitted diseases, and one in four had used methamphetamines at least once, the Los Angeles Times has reported (1).
That frequency is twenty times greater than in the general population.
The Times quoted the Center's manager of crystal meth recovery services, Mike Rizzo, saying that the illegal street drug "lowers sexual inhibitions, increases arousal and helps users escape internalized homophobia or other social stigmas...it's sort of the perfect gay drug."
Methamphetamine is known for contributing to the transmission of HIV. Quoting Rizzo, the Times said, "Of newly infected HIV patients, 43% reported some meth use."
Reference: "More Gay Men Using Meth, Study Finds," by R. Rosenblatt, Los Angeles Times, April 11, p. B6.
Updated: 8 February 2008
|
