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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 17, 2003)
October 17.2003- Basic meth BY SGT Elec ethamphetamine—also known as meth, energy level that is further affected by the ij crystal, Tina, ice, crank or speed— is the flotxl of adrenaline the drug releases. “Meth’s an 18-hour high compared to Hay community’s hottest, most trendy drug du jour. Meth comes in a white powdered cocaine’s 60 to 90 minutes,” says Schober. form, in a crystalline, chunky form and in pill “Meth is cocaine with legs," adds Val Law- form. It can he smoked or injected, swallowed, son, a counselor with ASAP Treatment Service. snorted or taken up the butt. Vein injection “It’s a poor man’s high." and smoking are the quickest—some say ay, hi and other men who have sex with strongest—high. men (MSM, as health service workers “In the last three or four years,” reports Sgt. Eric Schober ot Portland Police Bureau’s refer to us) are attracted to meth for l\u g s and Vice Division, “we’ve seen smok many reasons, the biggest of which is sex. For ing meth taking off around here. And we’ve many meth users, the drug prolongs sexual seen ice coming into Portland recently as stamina to Herculean levels, helps break well. If you look at ice closely, it hxiks like down sexual barriers, prolongs erections and intensifies orgasms. long shards. It’s pure crystal meth.” “My sex life is amazing,” Wade crows. “I’m Meth is a synthetic chemical related to its parent drug, amphetamine. Its primary ingre getting laid a lot, and I get to live out my fan tasies. When 1 use, it’s all dient, ephedrine or pseu- doephedrine, is a com about getting laid. I lower my standards. I get on mon ingredient found in “I did it because I was over-the-counter cold chat lines and beg for curious And my Mends, things I don’t like to medications. That ingre dient is altered chemical admit to. 1 search for whom I trusted, were ly by “cixiking" it with orgies and the sexual doing it I snorted it such nasties as pure extreme. I get into toys and pom. It’s a side of me ammonia, red phospho It makes you teel realty that only comes out rous, battery acid, drain when I’m high.” cleaners and lye. M eth’s wired It made me very But meth doesn’t made with some of the edgy and anxious—el most toxic, combustible always help sex. A condi materials around. Just tion known as “crystal which I am neither, cooking the stuff, let dick" renders some users when sober. '' alone putting it in your unable to get hard while kxJy, is an environmen others can stay hard but -Neil are unable to climax. tal nightmare. Many MSM and les Old-style meth was cooked with an easy-to-obtain amino acid bians also use meth to stay awake all night danc named pheylalanine or one of its chemical ing or partying. In Portland, meth use at circuit cousins. The cooking prcxress smelled like car parties, dances and clubs is common. Some use pee. “This old-style meth is making a big meth to overcome shyness, to help with feelings comeback in Portland,” claims Schober. ‘kWe of depression and boredom, to fight HIV- or think it might be because the old ctxiks are AIDS-related fatigue or to self-medicate atten being released from jail and they are cooking tion deficit/hyperactivity disorders. Some MSM it the way they know how. Users like this and lesbians use meth to go on housecleaning kind of crank because it’s not as harsh as, say, binges or to lose weight. the red phosphorous stuff.” “There’s always been meth in Portland’s Meth works by breaking through the gay community,” says Lawson. “The drug of brain-blood barrier, a soft fatty layer of pro choice comes and gcx?s in waves. Right now tection around your brain, and by encourag it’s definitely meth. At parties in Portland, it’s like cocaine used to be. Meth is laid out like ing the release of our natural neurotransmit- ters—dopamine, serotonin and norepineph an hors d’oeuvre." Lawson is the counselor who created and rine—as well as the release of our danger- reactor, adrenaline. The neurotransmitters leads ASAP Treatment Service’s Triangle Proj send signals to the brain, creating an ect, Oregon’s only comprehensive treatment immensely pleasurable rush that can last 12 program specifically designed for the sexual to 20 hours. Meth also sends mixed signals to minorities community. the brain causing the user to stay awake for "Most gay men are attracted to meth because hours or even days. It tells the body to go full- of sex,” Lawson says. “I think a lot of lesbian gear, which is known among users as “tweak ing,” a state of enormous excitement and Continued on Page 28 What meth is: an illegal synthetic stimulant that works directly on the central nervous system What meth looks like: clear or white powder or crystals; odorless; ingredients can alter to a brown or tea color or add black specks; also a small, brightly colored pill called Yaba What meth’s made of: primarily ephedrine or pseudoephedrinc (found in most common, over-the-counter asthma or cold medications); red phosphorous, ammonia or the amino acid phenylalanine; cut with drain cleaners, battery acid, lye, lantern fuel or antifreeze What meth does: an initial, orgasmically pleasurable rush followed by a euphoric high; lasts from 12 to 20 hours; feelings of sexual potency, intense concentration, high physical activity, extreme wakefulness and chattiness How meth does it: breaches the blood-brain barrier, releasing stores of adrenaline; changes the output of brain neurotransmitters, including dopamine (reward and pleasure activator), sero tonin (sleep and sensory perception activator) and norepinephrine (alertness and concentra tion activator) What meth’s called: meth, crystal, crystal meth, go, tweak, crank, ice, Tina, T, speed Who does meth: everyone—West Hills wealthy, eastside middle-class executives, North Portland blue-collar workers and downtown street youth alike; men who sleep with men (MSM), lesbiaas, queer street youth, many to keep awake or to get through sex work How’s meth’s taken: injected, smoked, snorted, eaten and taken up the butt; high varies for each method; snorting and injec tion preferred among Portland MSM meth users How meth’s procured: purchased on the street or out of dealers’ houses; Portland users find it eas ily at parties, clubs, bathhouses and bare How much meth costs: In Portland, 1/16 ounce, a “teener" of meth (six to eight "bumps" or hits) costs $60 to $100 depending on source and purity Where meth comes from: meth labs in rural areas of Oregon, California, Southwest Wash ington, Mexico or the American Stxjthwest How meth harms: risky sexual behavior contributes to contracting HIV, syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases; affects the health of teeth and gums, skin, lungs, liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tracts; sleep deprivation, dehydration and malnutrition; long-term effects include the depletion of neurotransmitters, damage to nerve centers, increasing paranoia and anxiety and even psychosis How meth kills: deeper and deeper depres sion sometimes results in suicide; heart attack and seizures when mixed with other drugs, espe cially psychiatric medications (such as Prozac, Zoloft or Paxil) or medications that affect heart rates, such as Viagra How to beat meth: treatment and other recovery methods work; several arc gay-orient ed, including ASAP Treatment Services’ Trian gle Project, 503-224-0075; De Paul Treatment Center, 503-535-1150; Crystal Meth Anon, crystalmeth_anon@msii.com Where to get more info on meth: www.tweaker.org—a hip, up-to-date resource for harm reduction; www.crystalneon.org—a site that offers downloadable brochures and useful, no-bullshit information n Dignity in Safe Schools Your gift to Equity is an investment in dignity. A Gay-Straight Alliance can make all the difference. That’s why Equity Foundation is proud to be a sponsor of Safe Schools projects throughout the state, including at Madison High School in Portland. Chris Enyeart, a student at Madison, says. "Every person who knows there’s a GSA feels safer, because our group is totally unbiased and open.” Equity Foundation’s Safe Schools Initiative assures that all youth have the opportunity to learn in an environment free of bullying and harassment. Make your contribution today so young people across Oregon can feel safer in their schools. Founded in 1989 by Oregon’s Gay and Lesbian community Ad sponsored by Marvin Salles. Realtor and Susan Nestor, CPA. WWW.CQllityfOUnddtiOn.OrQ EQUITY investing in Dignity
