We all know meth is bad news, but with use rising among gays in large cities and the proven fact that it’s the most damaging drug for people with HIV, why are people still using it?
That’s the question writer Matthew Rodriguez explores in “After Party,” his fine piece in Poz magazine about gay men trying to put their lives together after meth addiction. The feature is shocking and sad, but ultimately uplifting as Rodriguez dives into the surrogate community created by addicts in recovery:
Some of the people are openly gay; some do not disclose their orientation. They are of different races, ethnicities and social classes. They almost all wear jeans, and they are all here to overcome an addiction to crystal meth. A familiar face walks into the room and takes the seat to my immediate right.
His name is Tommy, and today marks his 123rd day without crystal meth. I met Tommy for the first time on his 97th day away from meth, and again on his 104th day. He began using meth when he was diagnosed with HIV at age 20. He’s now 29.
Tommy is just one of many men sucked in by the allure of the drug. Why is meth so powerful? It’s all about the dopamine:
Dopamine produces a positive reaction to every-day occurrences that keep us alive. When we eat or drink, our body gives us dopamine. In fact, studies show that eating food releases about 150 units of dopamine. Sex (without drugs) releases 200 units, nicotine results in 250, and cocaine clocks in at 350. In comparison, crystal meth unleashes a whopping 1,100 units of dopamine.
While the face of meth users is overwhelmingly white, black gay men are also at risk for addiction. One of these men is Michael Crumpler (pictured above), who shared his story with Poz.
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Crumpler, who is black, says that the identity of the people with the meth played a significant role in his decision to try the drug. “If a black person, a cousin, had offered it to me, I would never have done it. But I was in this socialized space with white guys who seemed to have their shit together, who seemed like guys that stepped right out of a porn video.” Because he first encountered meth in this environment, he says, “it masqueraded itself as being OK.”
Poz also assesses the drug’s role in fueling the AIDS epidemic, and how ACT UP activists are springing into action to fight the uptick in meth use among gay men:
AIDS activists have already held several teach-ins on the topic and formed a working group to raise awareness about this burgeoning epidemic. A priority for the group is to work with hospitals and ensure protocols are in place for dealing with the multifaceted reality of meth addiction.
“Members have been talking about it being a problem since the ’90s, but people are struggling a lot more than they used to,” says ACT UP’s Brandon Cuicchi, adding that the problem tends to stay underground, in part, because people have so much trouble kicking the habit.
We’ve barely skimmed the surface of the piece, which is quite good. We definitely encourage you to read it in its entirety here.
Christopher Hayward
Enhanced sex, I always found pot was better for that.
Christopher Hayward
Here is a choice music video about this topic; https://youtu.be/aMICD3aMZpw
bottom250
Hugs not drugs sweethearts. Big Hugs for you all.
kzen64
Used it, not addicted to it. Acquainted with several addicts, youngest was a 17yo. 3 of them HIV+
Nasty business to be near.
John Kuehnle
Never even seen the stuff.
David Tillman
Keeps you thin
Noel Hoklin
As well known the devastation this drug causes, I find it hard to comprehend why anyone would even try it.
Billy Budd
Test.
Billy Budd
I am being blocked and censored.
Paul Limandri
Yeah ‘cuz you have no appetite!
Mark Pointon
I don’t know how people can put that crap in their bodies…
Glücklich
The easily available BEFORE and AFTER photo montages and videos of meth heads wigging out aren’t enough of a deterrent? If a user’s lucky he/she will wind up in a church basement doing the twelve steps with a bunch of other burnt-out, toothless, crater-faced, withered old sad sacks.
Brian
Well, if you build your life on a sex act – as many gay-identifying men do – it’s only a hop and step to other forms of indulgence, such as meth. They go together in one constant permissive whirl which can ultimately be life-threatening.
jheryn
There is no “allure for gay men” with crystal meth or any other drug. There is allure to drugs for individuals, not sectors of society.
I have never had an attraction or desire for any drug. I neither want or need them in my life. Drugs appeal to certain people not just gays or African Americans, or white women, or natives of Guam. It affects people everywhere.
This isn’t a condemnation of people taking drugs. People indulge for many different reasons. Do I think it is ever a good idea? No. Do I judge? No. It isn’t my place.
I just hate the compartmentalization of epidemic situations like meth. It affects all walks of life. It is a people problem not a gay problem.
Black Pegasus
Nice job Queerty at finding a way to attach a Black man’s face to the problem mostly encountered by white men. It seems you don’t even try to hide your bigoted micro aggressions towards people of color. Well I see you!
Dave Downunder
@Black Pegasus: I think you will find the reason they used this man’s picture is because he was featured in the article in Poz which is what this article is covering. They are just relaying an existing story here.
Dave Downunder
@jheryn: I do think that meth affects a higher percentage of gay men than it does as a percentage of the greater community. I have felt for a long time that the gay communities laid back tolerance of unhealthy choices such as drug use is one of it’s biggest problems. There is to much concern about not judging people for their choices in the name of political correctness and not enough concern or emphasis on encouraging people to make better healthier choices.
GC1985
@Black Pegasus: Um statistics are simply statistics. I am not sure why you don’t grasp that?
@jheryn: Of course. It is a people problem… But gay men are far more likely to use them and/or engage in bareback sex. Some even on this site endorse bareback sex. We need to start acknowledging and discussing these problems.
@Brian: Well you basically suppress your own sexual orientation and lie about everything. So that’s just as bad as being hooked on meth. You probably think you are too manly and strong to get HIV.
GC1985
FYI. Brian is Jason Smeds. Under the Smeds account, he basically said he doesn’t need condoms and can tell someone is healthy by looking at them. Yeah bit of a hypocrite.
martinbakman
I don’t understand that scene of unprotected sex and meth, in that the risks are so clear yet men put other men at risk. That behavior upsets me.
But I really hate whoever is funneling meth into the gay community.
DCguy
@Brian: stated : Well, if you build your life on a sex act – as many gay-identifying men do – it’s only a hop and step to other forms of indulgence, such as meth. They go together in one constant permissive whirl which can ultimately be life-threatening
–
And Brian, if you build your life on bigotry, you know, as many religious-identifying-people do – it’s only a hop and a step to other forms of attacks on people, such as violence and attempts to legalize hate and bigotry. Leading to inevitable incidences of hypocrisy when people are caught with prostitutes or cheating on their wives all in opposition to the religion they spout to attack others.
They go together in one constant permissive whirl of hatred, bigotry, hypocrisy which can ultimately be life threatening to others.
Aromaeus
How much do you have to hate yourself or your own race that you admit to only doing drugs because you saw aesthetically pleasing white men doing it.
jheryn
@Dave Downunder: I don’t dissagree with you, but I live in an area of the country where meth use rampant in the straight white community and NOT in the gay community. I suppose it is all in who you know and where you live, but still meth is a people problem. If we concentrate on one user group and not the whole, it is likely just to reinfect the group that was cleansed. You really have to look at drug use as a disease and not something compartmentalized.
@GC1985: As I said before, it depends on where you live and who you know. You seem to like statistics and there are many, many more straight users than gay users, so does it really matter if gays would use more or not? It needs to be taken care of as a whole.
And really, there are many problems out there, why the need to bring barebacking into this conversation? One problem at a time.
Glücklich
@Brian:
Count your blessings no one’ll touch you with a ten-foot pole. NOOOOOOO chance for *you* to indulge in anything other than sitting on the floor of your closet in the dark rocking and crying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BepByFDjjls
jheryn
@martinbakman: Let’s be honest, it is gay people funneling meth into the gay community. No one forces others to engage in unhealthy activity. We make our own choices.
Glücklich
As I’ve said before, meth is for trailer trash. If one has to use illicit mind-altering substances at least the yayo has an air of class to it. Loosen the purse strings for chrissakes.
Ben Stimpson
I’ve met plenty of methheads, and I’ve come to learn that once you start and continue it will change you and just devestate both your body and your mind. It terrifies me that this sort of stuff is out there, and in such large amounts to.
notevenwrong
Tried it and it did absolutely nothing for me, whereas weed takes sex into the stratosphere for me. Unusual brain chemistry, I guess.
Amaurys Arias
Self esteem… Gay men, self esteem.
Stache
@Aromaeus: I don’t think it was meant to disrespect black guys. He just wanted to fit in a certain demographic that he was attracted to.
I started meth under the same pretenses. I saw lots of hot guys I was attracted to doing it and wanted to be included. In my mind it legitimized it’s use. I was young and a fool which goes hand in hand allot.
Stache
@Glücklich: What’s Yayo?
Stache
@Noel Hoklin: “As well known the devastation this drug causes, I find it hard to comprehend why anyone would even try it.”
When has that ever stopped anyone? Lots of people still take up smoking too. Usually happens in their young indestructible phase.
onthemark
@Glücklich: Yeah… trailer trash / hillbillies are so associated with meth, but apparently they don’t use it for marathon sex sessions, which we’re always told is the reason gay guys use it. Apparently straight trailer trash use it and just… stare off into space? In the way it’s used by the two groups, it seems almost like two entirely different drugs.
Scott Redner
Because they are stupid…
Rob Smith
@Black Pegasus: Um, I’m black, and I used his photo specifically because #1 – he’s quoted in the original piece and #2 – the overall face of meth use is widely white, and he represents a different side to a story that has been covered many, may times.
Xtian99
@jheryn: I disagree totally
jheryn
“There is no “allure for gay men” with crystal meth or any other drug.” gay men are so very drawn to drugs for so many reasons- escapism, internalized homophobia, years of shame, fears, anxiety, pressure to be beautiful and desired, desire for amazing sex, faux intimacy to ease loneliness, etc.
Just because you never had an attraction or desire for any drug does not negate that gay communities as a whole sure do. it is the word drug for gays because it is the best at “fixing” what drives them to use – see above reasons. as a bad as it eventually gets, it doesn’t start like that- it starts from all accounts as amazingly wonderful, with people feeling confident and secure and loved and making great connections and having great sex and insecurities being lifted etc. by the time the mazing wears off its too late.
Glücklich
@Stache:
coke
Glücklich
@onthemark:
I think trailer trash use it out of boredom, though I can’t understand why they wouldn’t stick to booze while they’re chained to the single-wide with their litters of kids, dodging bill collectors on their pay-as-you-go phones. Maybe all those empty hours “go faster” on meth…it’s gotta be a drudge of a time walking to and from the liquor store to cash those welfare checks, picking up aluminum cans along the roadside and waiting to star in the next episode of “COPS”. They sure as shit don’t seem to be using it for marathon sessions of becoming productive members of society.
http://www.dreamindemon.com/2016/04/04/four-men-charged-raping-9-year-old-girl-mother-smoked-meth/
Louie Lieberman
It’s all fun in the beginning, then it all goes dark! Stay away from it! Never ends up anywhere good for any party/ parties involved .
Poncho Sanchez
Animal studies indicate that excessive exposure to prenatal hormones can potentially damage or alter dopamine receptors. If one of the neuro developmental correlates of homosexuality is unusual dosages of prenatal hormones, (in combination with genetics) well…..gay men might just be predisposed to dopamine inducing drugs.
Joseph Hernandez
This is no good say no to drugs you don’t wanna take that road
youarekiddingme
@jheryn: The only “numbers” I was able to pull off the internet on Meth Addicts were the following:
http://rehab-international.org/crystal-meth/addiction-statistics
It was broken down by age grouping. Not race. Not socioeconomic status. Not sexual orientation. I’m sure there may be other studies out there (hopefully reputable…hence the reason I quoted from Rehab International) but nothing I was able to find that was even recent…
As far as GC1985 making the comment about “barebacking”…I think it’s a totally relevant topic to bring up on “Queerty…Free of an Agenda…Except that Gay One…” Most of us know that the reason Meth is used is the tremendous release of Dopamine in the brain. The Dopamine Rush often causes people who are on the drug to do stupid things they wouldn’t ordinarily do (i.e., unprotected sex). So yea, even if we disagree agout the statistics of the use increasing in the community, the facts are that it DOES cause a flood of Dopamine in the brain that CAN lead to UNSAFE sex.
Good point @GC1985:
Poncho Sanchez
@youarekiddingme: According to the CDC, gay men use almost all drugs at higher rate than the general population.
http://www.cdc.gov/msmhealth/substance-abuse.htm
nmharleyrider
This article makes it sound like an exclusively gay issue. This problem is not restricted to one group in the population. I simply do not believe that gay men use almost all drugs at a higher rate than any other group. Just look at all the hooked celebrities in the music business. The fact is that it is everywhere. I do not see the allure of any drugs myself and have never seen this one nor known anyone who acknowledged using it.
Stached1
@Black Pegasus: People of all races use meth, and it’s not just mainly only white gay men. But eventually the troll Stache will come here and post glamorizing meth and the sex had while on it.
@nmharleyrider: That’s very true a lot more heterosexual people than LGBT people or even gay men use meth. I know a gay man that uses meth but he’s been on a downward spiral long before that as he’s been with more sexual partners in the last 5 years than I’ve been with despite how I’ve been out as a bisexual man and active since I was a young adult, but he does it only bareback and believes that PreP/Truvada will keep him “neg” which he claims he is but I don’t believe him. But he uses all sort of other drugs as well like coke/crack, and H/dope. I met this guy since he was dating a friend of mine and I would see him socially at a bar we would all go to.
Stached1
@Stache: LMAO I find it hard to believe that you don’t know that yayo=coke.
@Glücklich: Yayo/coke has class? LOL this is not the 1970s or the 80s at all anymore.
Stache
@Stached1: Please Jaco*23 I mean shithead do tell where I glamorized it’s use? I wonder sometimes if you’re really that dense or just some subjects cause you to go crazy like sex and drugs which is where I always find you. Definitely a love/hate obsession of yours. At least with the politics section I know you won’t be there.
“I met this guy since he was dating a friend of mine and I would see him socially at a bar we would all go to.” My first though. Wow. Jacob has a friend. The next one. You know all that from such a distance. Lol
Congrads on taking your first step out of the closet though as Bi. I and others don’t have to call you closet case anymore. Maybe one day when you stop hiding you’ll start accepting ie not hating so much.
Glücklich
@Stached1:
I find it hard to believe you couldn’t detect a modicum of facetiousness.
It’s a timeless classic. Like good manners, coke’s never gone out of style.
AtticusBennett
an escape from unchecked depression, that’s what. we are a community and a culture born into a world that we find out very-quickly doesn’t want us to be who and what we are. the process of not just Coming Out, but shaking off all the societal pains and fears and isolations we feel about being gay takes actual WORK.
meth provides a feeling of escape from all of that. and it will ruin your life. don’t ever try it. and if you have a friend who is using, you need to get them to get help. professional help. you can’t just “quit” meth. you need ongoing and hard work with a counsellor, a support group, and medical professionals – not to mention a complete spring cleaning of your social circles which almost always contain other users.
dwes09
@Dave Downunder: I don’t know what things are like “down under”, but here in the US meth use is a huge problem in urban gay communities. In more rural areas it is overwhelmingly a white heterosexual problem.
dwes09
@jheryn: And really, there are many problems out there, why the need to bring barebacking into this conversation? One problem at a time.
Statistics show clearly that meth users are much more likely to engage in risky sex and seroconvert. So the two problems are very much intertwined. I thought most people were aware of that.
Tackle
@Black Pegasus: Actually you do have a point. @Rob Smith: Ok: I’m Black also. And wouldn’t you agree that if this Meth problem were primarily affecting Black men that that headline would be, ( What’s behind the enduring allure of Chrystal Meth among gay Black men?)
When it’s/something is primarily affecting gay Black men, Black will definitely specified. When it’s gay White men, the “White” is always left out.
Stache
@dwes09: As Peter Staley says we can kiss of the Aids epidemic ending goals if we don’t include meth prevention. A new wave of unaware users who weren’t around in the 90’s and early 2000’s when the last Meth crisis happened.
Curtispsf
If someone offers you meth, RUN…do not walk as far away and as fast as you can. Meth nearly robbed me of my soul. I’m glad I was able to finally break it’s grip. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can try it and be the exception to the rule; you will not. Stay too long at the party and you will lose your soul….all spit out and chewed up.
DarkZephyr
@Black Pegasus: you kinda come across as a little loony in that post dude. “I see you!” A little creepy.
dwes09
@Stache: “A new wave of unaware users who weren’t around in the 90’s and early 2000’s when the last Meth crisis happened.”
Just as there is a “new wave” of gay men who think HIV is “a manageable disease like diabetes”: blissfully unaware that diabetes continues to shorten lives, cause pain and disability and secondary problems just as HIV does.
By the way, the meth crisis has been pretty much constant here in SF from the 80’s until now.
I did methamphetamine (and all other forms of speed) for the last time in the early 1980’s because it was too good and the chance of overuse (to avoid the crash) was so great. Gave up coke not long after, gave up pot in the mid 90’s (but still do that a couple of times a year), gave up nicotine in 2008 (it was the hardest to give up for me). I had already given up psychedelics by the late 70’s. I consider myself very, very lucky to have been able to put drugs down without help. And just as lucky to have avoided much damage from them. [Though I am not yet out of the woods as ear as long term affects of smoking are concerned. I could still develop COPD or lung cancer, even though my lungs seem pretty good given 50-70 miles a week of cycling at my age.]
Brian
The other thing about meth use is that is indicates self-hate. Self-hate can manifest as drug use, promiscuity, and even in identifying as gay.
It might seem counter-intuitive but identifying as gay can sometimes be an act of homophobia, of self-hate. You identify as what you deplore in order to make yourself smaller and less threatening to “normal” society.
Thus, one of the new theories I’m developing is that identifying as gay is a form of homophobia designed to make you smaller and more confined.
Glücklich
@Brian:
You’re bound to have a rusty razor blade around there somewhere. When you find it, remember to cut lengthwise, not cross-wise. And be sure to dig deep to get to those radial and ulnar arteries.
Brian
@Glücklich: Nobody cares about your inane comment, least of all me.
I’m simply pointing to some disturbing trends amongst gay-identifying men. I’m starting to see the gay identity as a form of self-hate, of homophobia.
Identifying as gay may be a form of personal assertiveness but where is that assertiveness being directed? Promiscuity and drug use? That’s one train I don’t want to catch.
Glücklich
@Briana:
Keep looking for that razor blade. Maybe the garage? Junk drawer in the kitchen?
You want to point to something disturbing? Find a mirror and lift up your hospital gown.
o.codone
I should probably sit this one out.
Me2
People indulge in drugs for different reasons. For me, I liked meth because of the euphoric sexual experiences I had while on it. Fortunately for me, the novelty wore off and I was able to walk away from it cold turkey. However, there are a lot of people with addictive personalities, undiagnosed depression, severe low self-esteem, and a myriad of other issues that won’t allow them to just pick up and walk away.
Bob LaBlah
If you have ever wondered about todays world and the sick shit that people do look no further than this video. The other day the Washington Post ran an article about some drug called Flakka. I just found this video on it and, though I have NO proof, for some reason I would not be shocked if the bastard who is filming this poor kid using that shit bought it for him just to video it and put it on youtube.com. How sick is the world you ask? See for yourself. This is just cruel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Du9ZpQNfugw
Franklin
I’m sorry, that is kind of weird that he specifically mentioned that only reason he felt comfortable trying meth was because pretty white guys were doing it. What difference does that make?
Glücklich
@Bob LaBlah:
Google “Krokodil” for some truly disturbing shit.
Stached1
@AtticusBennett: Why do you constantly bring everything back to closeted gay men? Did a closeted gay guy break your heart or something? Everyone I know who is gay that uses drugs and who likes to parTy and have unprotected sex is out about being gay and they’ve been out for awhile now.
@Glücklich: Coke was in style in the 70s and 80s. You will always have people who use it as it’s highly addictive but other drugs like Ecstasy, cannabis, and all types of legal research chemicals are more popular than coke now.
Bob LaBlah
@Glucklich………….my comment wasn’t allowed for some reason but hopefully this one comes thru. Damn, that WAS gross and even worse than that Flakka shit. I was horrified by the pics. I am NOT clicking on the video that is available on youtube. And to think that was in Russia.
GC1985
@Bob LaBlah: Yet flakka is gone.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-flakka-decline-20160304-story.html
It has just about vanished from the streets through a clampdown.
You want to know why it all about vanished? The Chinese government launched an incredibly harsh crackdown, resulting in mass arrests.
GC1985
@GC1985: *almost gone.
@jheryn: You’re in denial about everything. Meth and barebacking are often intertwined. And the ratio of meth users in the gay community is far greater than compared to regular society.
@Brian: You’re such a bad liar. You were endorsing bareback sex and you said “you don’t need condoms because you can tell if someone is healthy”.
Stop BSing us please.
Stached1
@Stache: I’m not Jaco and yes I am bisexual; but I’m not surprised you are a hypocritical biphobic bigot since you believe that someone coming out as bisexual when they are bisexual as I am is the “first step”. I’ve been out for decades even back when you were a closet queen using meth. Whenever the topic of gay men/LGBT people and meth comes up you post about how meth makes sex better and other nonsense that only tweakers believe. Also, your whole excuse about how gay men in the 90s and early 00s had no idea about how bad crystal was is BS. It’s been well known since the 50s and late 60s and early 70s for sure that meth is not good to use, and even people in the late 90s and early 00s knew this.
GC1985
@Poncho Sanchez: That is totally unsupported. Do yourself a favor and provide actualy sources for your arguments. That sounds like an argument the religious right would use. It doesn’t surprise me considering you’re a big Trump supporter. Get a reality check please.
GC1985
@Stached1: You’re just another troll coming on here trying to be a big shot. I wonder what happened to Jac*b23? Probably vanished into thin air. Maybe you should vanish too? Be gone!
Poncho Sanchez
@GC1985:
I wish you contesters would initiate your own research.
Here is the prenatal hormone theory of sexuality:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenatal_hormones_and_sexual_orientation
Here is the animal model study of prenatal hormones effecting dopamine receptors. (diethylstilbesterol is a synthetic estrogen based fertility drug)
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/newscience/low-level-EEs-alter-dopamine-from-brain-cells
Bob LaBlah
@Gluckich and GC1985………..the censors are blocking me. I give up (I have a two attempt limit). Maybe they will be down before the article is gone.
Poncho Sanchez
@GC1985: Oh, and by the way, I’m a libertarian, don’t support war monger trump nor commie sanders…they’re both douchebag liars.
GC1985
@Poncho Sanchez: You are a TRump supporter and WIKIPEDIA is NOT A SOURCE. So tell me… how does it feel seeing your candidate go down like the Hindenburg?
Oh and that doesn’t prove that homosexuals are more inclined genetically or biologically to use drugs. It just doesn’t. Learn a bit before you post on here.
GC1985
@Poncho Sanchez: You call them douchebag liars, yet you support libertarianism which is a giant pile of manure and all about lies? Wow keep it up. Where have you been living under since 2008? A rock? Libertarianism will never work and died years ago.
Only douchebag here is you.
youarekiddingme
@Poncho Sanchez: OH, you’re quoting the CDC? The same CDC that’s sold us down the river since the Reagan Administration (and before)? What scientific proof did they show for that pack of bullshit that they just spouted in that “blurb” of nonsense? Really Poncho, that’s akin to saying, “…if it’s on the internet it must be true…”
GC1985
@youarekiddingme: The CDC source doesn’t even back what he is saying. Like a typical libertarian, he is making a false correlation and is attempting to act smarter than he really is.
youarekiddingme
@Poncho Sanchez: Hey Poncho….READ…It says HORMONAL THEORY!!!!! No one in the scientific community ascribes to that rediculous theory! It’s laughable! They put the theory in Wikipedia so that people could look up how stupid the theory really is! No proof to support it!
Stached1
@GC1985: LOL that’s funny considering you have been banned here for being a troll many times and always change your name.
youarekiddingme
@Poncho Sanchez: Your bullshit study from environmental health regarding dopamine….Did you even READ THAT EITHER???
Let’s see, it was an experiment done in RATS. Not Humans.
Results were in Parts Per Billion and Parts Per Trillion.
The Dopamine increases were not LINEAR (meaning they did not increase in a straight line as dosage increased). There was NO DIRECT 1 for 1 correlation!!
Please learn to read your Pseudo-Scientific Studies before you post them…
youarekiddingme
@Stached1: He’s never been banned from here. Queerty hasn’t banned anyone in YEARS!
Stached1
A better question would be, why did this guy choose to have unprotected sex at 20, and become HIV+? Did he have the mentality that HIV would not happen to him? Or did he believe what gets said that “HIV is a manageable condition it’s just like being diabetic!” that people claim? Or did he IV crystal meth and share needles and that’s how he got infected?
Stached1
@youarekiddingme: Then why does he constantly change his name?
seaguy
Because it lets you escape all your problems and feel like you are sexxy , and whatever you desire to feel. Until it takes control and you become addicted and loose everything.
But its not just gay men straight people too as any wal mart tweaker search on youtube will show.
Stache
@youarekiddingme:Ha. That’s something stached1 aka Jaco*23 can attest to since his last name was banned for too much trolling. Try putting his name in a sentence and post it. Just replace the * with a b. Queerty won’t allow you to even say the name.
Of coarse it doesn’t work very well since all they have to do is sign in on another email and name.
GC1985
@Stached1: Says the troll that changed his name. We all know you are that bigot J@cob23. Hypocrite.
Poncho Sanchez
@youarekiddingme: The prenatal hormone theory for sexuality aligns with the Geschwind-Galaburda testosterone hypothesis for left handedness (left-handers are another drug abusing cohort), the only flaw in the GG hypothesis is they only attributed left-handedness to one type of hormone (several may play a role), and the GG theory didn’t factor in a genetic component.
youarekiddingme
@Poncho Sanchez: Sorry, a Lee Ellis study in 2016 found NO CORRELATION whatsoever in handedness and sexuality. You should really look up your studies. This was shown when doing a simple Google Search on your Geschwind-Galaburda Hypothesis…Again, another hypothosis. Not scientific fact…as I pointed out in my previous post to you.
Poncho Sanchez
@youarekiddingme: The Ellis study says homosexual women were more likely to be left handed.
GC1985
@Poncho Sanchez: Like a typical libertarian, you are making false correlations not based on actual scientific fact.
Stached1
@GC1985: Yes you and Stache are the only trolls here. I’m not Jacob.
But moving on, why did this guy at 20 years old make the personal choice to have unprotected sex and become HIV+? I know some people who were addicted to meth and they would just always have safer sex and they are still HIV neg.
jheryn
@Xtian99:
You can disagree with me if you want, but I think you are missing my point. It is a person problem, not a gay one. Gay or straight or anything inbetween if you choose to use any drug for any reason that is a choice. My gay community probably has its users but it isn’t rampant or even a blip on our radar. Maybe yours does, but how does that make meth just a gay problem? You said it yourself “…with PEOPLE feeling confident and secure and loved and making great connections and having great sex and insecurities being lifted etc. by the time the mazing wears off its too late.” It affects all people for those reasons, not just gays. Again take care of the meth problem as a whole, take care of it for the gay community.
@GC1985:
You have no idea what I or anyone else is in denial about. Did I ever say that meth and barebacking didn’t have an association? No. So please keep your dime store, pop-wannabe personality claims about others to yourself.
There are a lot of unhealthy things associated with meth other than barebacking. Take care of the meth and you alleviate some of those problems. And associated or not, barebacking is another issue. There are a lot of people that engage in that who don’t touch meth. It is a problem unto itself.
@youarekiddingme:
Take your own stat reference for meth. Read the sub heading in that piece “Who Can Become Addicted to Meth?” It’s too long to post but it says it affects all races, classes, genders, age groups, and other boundaries. No where does it indicated that one is affected more than another. Again on the barebacking comment, my point was that you cure the meth problem you are probably going to be curing at least a portion of the barebacking issue. Not all, but barebacking as a whole is a different topic.
@dwes09:
See my other comments to the other three people above. I thought most people didn’t use hyperbole. I was wrong.
GC1985
@jheryn: You are ridiculous and it is nonchalant attitudes like your own as to why we have problems. You think we can only focus on one problem at a time and cannot have a multifaceted approach. And you like powdering over issues. Dime store, pop wannabe claims? Are you sure you aren’t on drugs yourself? You sound self absorbed and delusional.
youarekiddingme
@jheryn: Ok, I re-read your original post. I do agree. Completely. Meth IS a people problem and NOT a Gay only problem. I think the study that I posted supported that point that the author to this article clearly missed completely…
So, on that point I do agree with you totally. You have my apology for misinterpreting what you originally posted.
On the issue of barebacking. You state/clarify in this post that by ridding Meth you “cure” at least a “portion” of the barebacking issue…I think most would agree with at least that much. Elimination of a horrible drug like this (that spikes the pleasure release drug Dopamine) in the brain, is certainly responsible for many users to participate in unsafe sex. This is the reason, I believe, that it (barebacking) SHOULD be a part of this discussion and not a whole Different Topic as you suggest. Barebacking by the way, is not a gay thing…it is also a straight thing. Unprotected sex is unprotected sex. All STD’s rise as a result of the result of abuse of alcohol and drugs.
youarekiddingme
@Poncho Sanchez: Ellis showed NOT CORRELATION to handedness and sexuality regarding men or women. Stop trying to grasp at straws. Each study/article/hypothesis that you have tried to bring forward (and now mine) has been shown to be a scientific falsehood. Re read that study and show me where it supports your premis homosexual women are likely to be left handed…By the way, we’re talking a statistically significant. Strong enough to support scientific scrutiny, and measurable. I don’t want to hear about .00001% “chance”. That’s not statistically significant nor will it support scientific scrutiny.
youarekiddingme
@youarekiddingme: should be “NO” CORRELATION
GC1985
@Stached1: You just pop out of nowhere and foam at the mouth. Almost as clueless as Poncho Sanchez (nice fake name).
youarekiddingme
@GC1985: You mean “Dirty Sanchez”?
jheryn
@GC1985: Let’s see… I am ridiculous and nonchalant about these issues and sound self absorbed and delusional. According to you.
I am ridiculous and self-absorbed for wanting meth to be eradicated for everyone? How is that self-absorbed for wanting others to be free of something dangerous that I am not personally afflicted with? Why is that ridiculous?
Do you even know what nonchalant means? I doubt it very much. How could what I wrote ever be seen as nonchalant? I think you may need to google the word.
Delusional? About what? Here is a four syllable word that I think you heard and want to use even though you have no comprehension of how it actually fits into a conversation.
I also have a couple of words that I think fit you very well: Cognitively impaired. I know they are rather large words, but I am certain you can find someone to sound them out and explain them to you.
Stached1
@GC1985: LOL no I don’t ‘pop up out of nowhere and foam at the mouth’, however you and the other troll Stache certainly do this and you have both been banned from this site before.
Stache
Ah wonderful. Looks like Queerty banned you again. Thanks for playing Stach*d1.