Party and Play: How Meth Became Such a Big Part of Gay Culture

The party scene is no stranger to drug use, but within the LGBTQIA+ community, one drug in particular has taken hold: methamphetamines, better known as crystal meth. This is made all the more disparaging when considering that an estimated 20 to 30 percent of those in the LGBTQ+ community suffer from some form of addiction. What was once casual use has since evolved into an outright epidemic. 

People — especially young people — may think that a single use of methamphetamines may not be anything to worry about, but the substance is mind-bogglingly addictive and has the potential to negatively alter the course of a person’s life. We must address this issue before it is too late.

Tracing the expansion of meth use in the LGBTQIA+ community

Within the LGBTQIA+ community, methamphetamine use is tied back to its original use as an aphrodisiac. Many believed crystal meth could help them have fun by increasing their energy and sex drive; however, the dangerous nature of the drug and disturbing side effects make the increasing prevalence of this drug’s use in the community concerning.

Other members of the LGBTQIA+ community use drugs such as crystal meth as a means of finding an “escape,” given the historical oppression and pain felt within the community. Although many have turned to healthier refuges like drag bars and leather clubs to temporarily free themselves from the harsh reality of this pain and oppression, drug use and addiction has become increasingly more common over the past several decades. 

Unfortunately, there can come a point when venues like drag bars and clubs are no longer enough to satisfy a person’s need for comfort. While many find refuge in these places of freedom, celebration, and community, others begin to feel they need something stronger to help desensitize them from the troubles of the world. This type of use is particularly dangerous, as, over time, a user’s tolerance to the drug increases, and they need to take more frequently and/or in greater amounts for it to have the same effect. This is when addiction begins taking hold.

The dangers of meth use for LGBTQIA+ individuals

Because of the amount of methamphetamines the average meth user takes — and that many doses of crystal meth are cut with other, even more dangerous substances — overdoses are disproportionately common. One study showed that 17% of all overdoses in the United States were from methamphetamine users, many of whom also had at least one other drug in their system. This is a large part of what makes meth such a dangerous substance.

For younger individuals, crystal meth tends to be even more dangerous than it is for adults. Because young people’s brains are still developing, they are generally more susceptible to forming an addiction than adults. Additionally, the use of drugs such as crystal meth in adolescence and youth has been connected with irreversible damage to the brain and other organs that could cause significant health problems in the future.

Studies have also found a correlation between crystal meth usage and unsafe sexual practices. Because of the heightened suggestibility and lessened impulse control associated with the “high” of taking crystal meth, users tend to be more likely to engage in unprotected or risky sexual activity. When combined with the fact that some meth users also administer the drug anally before sex, this can increase the transmission of STIs, including HIV.

The threat that meth poses to the LGBTQIA+ community

However, the consequences of meth usage do not stop with the physical health effects. Within the LGBTQIA+ community, people have long seen relationships affected — sometimes, even destroyed — by drug use. It’s difficult to see someone you love struggling with the disease of addiction, though it can be just as dangerous for you to hold onto your loved one when they have reached a point where they are past your ability to aid them.

We need to focus on raising awareness of drug use’s threat to our community. There is a dire need for additional resources and programs to be put in place to help LGBTQIA+ individuals with their struggles with addiction. Openly displaying and discussing the struggles that those suffering from addiction face will allow us to adapt, find solutions, and improve for the future.

Crystal meth has claimed the lives of many within the LGBTQIA+ community and destroyed countless more, with the rate of meth-related deaths nearly tripling in the past few years. Why would we allow this drug to continue to devastate our community when it only causes death, sadness, and destruction? Fighting this epidemic begins with understanding the nature of the drug and why people think it is desirable or fashionable. Once we have that greater understanding, we can be much more prepared to tackle this issue.

Kollyn Conrad, is Executive Director — Publicly Private