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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2005)
rrnrrninews apnl 1.20Q5 ’ r ay Dagenhart became infected with HIV while addicted to meth. His addiction also led him td “losing just about every job that 1 had during my addiction, being ' gay-bashed, having a gun pulled on me, declaring bankruptcy and finally becoming homeless—all because of my crystal meth addiction.’’ National Coalition for LGBT Health His was the most riveting presentation heard by Bob Roehr at a session on crystal methamphetamine March 14 during the spring meeting of the National Coalition for LGBT Health in Wash ington, D.C. without fear of getting caught, because who Dagenhart and a group of other recovering from the [Drug Enforcement Administration] or addicts formed the Philadelphia Crystal Meth police are going to come into the bathhouse— Task Force (www.meth2death.org). “We are walk around in a towel with the fear of playing tired of pushing this under the mg and not dis grab ass—and crack down on the drug problem cussing it, so we are going to talk about it in very within our community?” bold ways, to change the conversation,” he said. The goal of the task force—based on a model T he S cope developed in New York City—is to change Some 15 percent of gay men had used meth community values so that using crystal and hav during their most recent sexual encounter, third ing unprotected sex or being up all night danc only to alcohol and marijuana, according to a ing is seen as inappropriate behavior. “We are 2004 survey in San Francisco. Gordon saying, ‘Do you realize how addictive this is?’ ” Mansergh, a researcher with the Centers for Dis Dagenhart said. ease Control and Prevention, summarized some He recently went to a bathhouse in Philadel of the key findings at two-day CDC meeting on phia. When he disclosed his HIV status to men gay men and crystal meth use in mid-January. there, the first five turned and walked away. Meth users in San Francisco were “1.7 times “The only person who was willing to have sex more likely to test positive for gonorrhea, nearly with me was the crystal meth addict,” Dagen two times more likely to have chlamydia and hart said. nearly five times more likely to have syphilis.” “This is no mystery. The dmg dealers in our Tn New York City, HIV-positive men were near community are setting up shop in bathhouses. ly three times more likely to report meth use They check into a room, they bring their supply, during their most recent anal sex encounter. and they can feed their sexual addiction, which “One of the recommendations coming out of stems from their crystal meth addiction. the conference in January is that we don’t focus “They can sell large quantities of the dmg exclusively on meth, that we focus on all suh- G rappling with C rystal M eth J addresses addiction Recovering addict Jay Dagenhart formed the Philadelphia Crystal Meth Task Force to combat meth use in the queer community. stance abuse, because of the issue of somebody moving to another substance,” Mansergh said. That report will be released shortly. “I think the risks around alcohol abuse are better known. I wonder how many young gay men may get in over their heads before they realize what their risks are with meth,” said David Haltiwanger of the Chase-Brexton Clin ic in Baltimore. “Part of what we need to do is rebrand crystal meth so that it is not considered not just another inntxzent party drug, but a much more dangerous drug. There are casual drug users who would never touch heroin; it has a brand that they are not going to go near." Part of the solution is to “move crystal across that line so that people don’t think of it as some thing that you can casually pick up and put down.” “How come, when you interview straight men, they don’t put enhancing sex as one of the top reasons for using meth?” asked Barbara War ren of the New York City LGBT Center. “1 think that has got less to do with whether or not they use it for sex and a heck of a lot more with the cultural and political context that gay men live in vs. straight men. 1 think that the reason that this behavior is still such a challenge to gay and bisexual men is linked to the absolute hos tility and demonization of gay sexuality in our society. Using a drug like this and engaging in these kinds of behaviors is a way to kind of for get that." Treatment specialist Phil McCabe noted that many people continue to use meth as a self- medication for depression and that one of the physical symptoms of stopping meth use is long term depression as the body recovers. He does not believe the community is prepared to deal with that. While the focus today is on preven tion, “we have to balance that with treatment” to help people stop using meth. JM A transcript and Web cast of the 75'minute session are available from the KAISER F amily F( CJNI iation at wuw.kaisernetwork .org/health_cast. Bon R oehr is a free'lance reporter based in Washington, D.C. Tke Rigkl Gift is EscentiaI LAURELHURST DENTISTRY C larice J ohnston & GREAT CLOSE IN LOCATION $449,000 5BD/3BA , over 2600 sq.ft. Large private wooded lot. dm d . ASSOCIATES • Treatment explained and discussed SPACIOUS CONIM) $199,900 Super location 2BR/2BA + den. High ceilings, frplc. Near John's Landing & downtown. Over 1,200 sq. ft. CHARMING ENGLISH $244,000 • Teeth whitening 3BD/1.5BA, over 2000 sq. ft. original mahogany trim. Fenced yard w/covered patio. • New patients welcome LIKE NEW IN BEAVERTON $209,900 3BD/2BA over 1,700 sq. ft. ranch. Frplc, air cond, fully remodeled. Near Nike campus. 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