iuly 1.2QÛ5’ JllSt OUt15
l?bliW!Mi4lnews
T he M eth P resence
Frontline experts agree that Portland lags in responding to crisis
by Jaymee R. Cuti
rystal methamphetamines effect
“Mine is the typical story. I partied out of con
on gay men has been covered
trol, went to bathhouses and had nevei-ending
locally and nationwide. Meth was
sex with multiple partners,” said Motter, who Is
on the agenda at the Center for an Oregon spokes mode I for the HIV Stops with
Disease Control and Preventions
Me campaign and co-chainnan of the HIV Plan
2005 National HIV Prevention Conference
last
ning Council.
“At the time I didn’t disclose I was
month in Atlanta and has been the topic
of dis
HIV-positive.
Nobody ever asked, I never said,
cussion recently by local law enforcement, treat
which I think is pretty common.”
ment facilities and prevention organizations.
After a lifetime of drug experimentation, he
The medias coverage of the drug and its
says his addictive personality combined with the
effect locally is so heavy, one network has even
highly addictive qualities of meth are acutely to
created a “Meth Watch” logo to accompany
blame.
each meth-related story. And yet with meth on
Motter’s prison stint resulted from white col
the minds of many gay Portlanders, who
lar theft. He found
acknowledge the drug is responsible for
sobriety while
in
increases of HIV and other sexually
prison four years ago.
“I did things 1 never
transmitted diseases, the drug rages on
thought I would have
at “party and play” sessions, where
unprotected sex with multiple partners
done, and I rational
ized it away pretty eas
is the norm.
According to literature produced by
ily,” he said.
Industry profession
Cascade AIDS Project, Outside In and
Multnomah County, queer men who
als agree that Portland
is a few steps behind
use meth are twice as likely to be HIV
positive, nearly five times more likely to
the meth epidemic,
which is increasing in
get syphilis and almost twice as likely to
the city.
get gonorrhea or chlamydia. CAP has
Outside In has seen
created a new Men’s Prevention and
increases in its needle
Wellness department to address meth
addiction, among other topics.
exchange program,
though director Kathy
“You have a lot of younger guys falling
prey to destructive behavior. Younger
Oliver cannot say
whether
meth
is
people flexing their independence and
discovering themselves are naturally more
responsible for the
prone to experimentation,” said Thomas
increase. When the
Bruner, executive director of CAP. “Take
program opened in
some of those guys and put them in a gay
1989, it exchanged
subculture that is largely sex, youth and
less than 50,000 sy
alcohol oriented, and is it any wonder
ringes. That number
some get sucked in?"
has climbed every
Meth addiction finds its root cause
year; the agency now
exchanges approxi
in the myriad vulnerabilities affecting Needle exchange depositories
mately 450,000 sy
gay men—depression, oppression and are one indicator of rising meth
ringes annually.
homophobia—or perhaps a more sim use in Portland.
“Cuts in the Ore
ple explanation: Meth feels good, and
gon
Health
Plan
and
cuts
in direct treatment
it’s addictive.
Bruner tends to adhere to the latter philosophy.
programs result in more people in the streets
using drugs,” Oliver said. “Has there been an
“I think it would be inaccurate to paint all
increase in meth use among our clients? I can
gay meth users with the same broad brush
definitely say yes to that.”
stroke. Some drug abuse is clearly linked to
ASAP Treatment Services runs the Triangle
mental health issues, but for some people, there
Project, the only queer-specific drug treatment
could be a much simpler reason. Apparently,
in Portland. Though the program does not spe
meth feels incredible, and it’s highly addictive.
cialize in meth, coordinator Vai Lawson says
So for some gay meth users, it might be as sim
meth is responsible for the occurrence of HIV
ple as that.”
and other STDs in some of her clients.
Conversely, the director of Q-LAND, a gay
“In Portland, STDs have increased, as have
men’s wellness organization, insists something
HIV-positive clients, and much of that is a result
deeper is at work.
of the meth epidemic,” she said.
“I call it the perfect storm of factors that
Last month, representatives from local law
have come together in the last six years to make
enforcement, treatment and prevention agen
meth very popular. One of them at the root is
depression,” said Bart Church, whose organiza cies, along with 23 elected officials, met to cre
ate a list of 15 recommendations to better get
tion has run a successfill bar testing campaign.
According to Church, a conservative govern control of the meth problem. The action plan
ment breeding homophobia, outdated preven called for more open jail beds, longer sentences
tion messages, unusually high percentages of for meth cooks, restoring the number of eligible
depression and anxiety among gays and the emer Oregon Health Plan clients to 110,000 and the
commitment from elected officials to take one
gence of anonymous hookups via the Internet
half-day each year to educate themselves about
create a climate for self-medication with meth.
drug prevention.
John Motter, a former meth user, says depres
According to Church, officials have not met
sion played a part in his meth-fueled behavior,
the
call from a burgeoning meth crisis.
which resulted in a fraud conviction that land
“What we’re doing is wholly inadequate,” he
ed him in prison for 13 months. While he was
said of his own organization’s limited reach.
using, Motter reports having frequent un
“Compared to the problem and how fast it’s
protected sex with multiple men at Portland’s
growing, Portland’s response is way behind
bathhouses and sex clubs without disclosing his
schedule.” JTH
HIV-positive status.
zazw
*
Helping you
is what I do.
Cary L. Smith
Licensed Real Estate Broker
C
Quality Service Certified - Awarded Rising Star 2004
casmith@pru-nw.com
503-350-7525 Direct Line
503-341-8713 Cell
visit my website
www.casmith.pru-nw.com
www.Dharma-Rain.Org
Prudential H
709 SW 16th Avenue • Portland Oregon 97205
Enjoy urban life! A great location at an affordable price.
Walk to Downtown, the Pearl, and NW 23rd Avenue.
Studios & 1 Bedrooms
503.227.3617
$117,000 to $240,000
Sales Office Open Thursday — Monday I lam to 5pm
• New Appliances
• Tiled Kitchens
• On the MAX Line
• 1920's Charm
• Original Built-ins
• Hardwood Floors
ha in i 11 on arm scondos.com
By Appointment
Bridge City Family
Medical Clinic, PC
Most
Insurances
Accepted
2821 NE 58th Avenue (Cross Street Sandy Boulevard) Portland, Oregon 97213
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Physicals • Pap Smears • Birth Control
Diabetes • High Blood Pressure • Asthma
Minor Injuries • Colds • Flu • Ear infections
Rashes • Immunizations • Stomach Problems
Sports Physicals • Bladder Infections
Teri Bunker FNP
Monday Friday
8:30 - 5:0()pm
503-460.0405
Fax: 503-460-0434
Soutl.east Lou_atu>n
1402 A SE 39th Ave
(39th & Hawthorne)
Portland, OR
77?e Natural Alternative for Pet Foods & Supplies
voted 'Bdst Piace to shop
to Avoid Pet Food Allergies. '
by WíUa.rMtíZ WUfc
972 1 4
50 3.2 3 6.80 36
Alberta Location
2224 NE Alberta
Portland, OR
972 1 1
50 3.249.6 5 7 1
and "3est Health Food For Pets'
healthypetsnw.com
T jca JS
j Homeoparhic Remedies pestiCde Free
Allergy Produces