“Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” the old saying goes.  Well if that’s true, then a variation on the them might be that for some CRYSTAL has become gay man's best friend…crystal, in this case, being the party drug Crystal Methamphetamine.  I want to hit on this topic for two reasons:  First, because there have been a number of reports and studies published regarding crystal meth use in the gay men’s community and second, because through contact with people in our own area I have been hearing more frequently about Rochester guys partying with it…adding local relevance to the subject.

So what is crystal methamphetamine? Over the years it’s been referred to as  “crystal,” “meth,” “chrissy,” “crank,” “speed” and “tina.”  Crystal is an amphetamine that users generally smoke, snort, or inject and that affects dopamine levels in the brain.  It can create a dramatic high (also referred to as being “tweaked”) that brings sensations of being creative, euphoric, excited, energetic and extremely horny…often so horny that users engage in types of sex that they normally would not (i.e. tops become bottoms, people experiment with fisting, barebacking, multiple partner/orgy sex, etc.)

The harmful effects of crystal, however, are a bit more sobering.  Crystal can cause hallucinations, insomnia, liver dysfunction, diarrhea, potential permanent brain damage, increased blood pressure and heart rate and risk of stroke.  Additionally, many crystal users report that the drug causes in them an inability to get an erection or to achieve orgasm…a problem that they attempt to counteract with other sex enhancing drugs such as viagra and ecstasy…both of which can have potentially lethal consequences when combined with crystal.

A further complication of using crystal is the risk of long-term habitual use or addiction.  Because the high they experience is so pleasurable and users feel so energized, many report having binges called “crystal weekends” in which they use continuously for 2-3 days (one study indicated that nearly 50% of non-habitual recreational users of crystal reported have periods of continuous use that approached or exceeded 48 hours!).  During this time not only do many users neglect basic physical needs such as eating and sleeping (clearly detrimental to one’s health), but their body also builds up a tolerance.  This tolerance can lead to a need for larger and/or more frequent doses to maintain the same level of  “tweak” and may eventually develop into active addiction.

A final serious health risk is the connection between crystal and STD’s.   A number of studies published in cities like L.A., San Francisco, and Miami have illustrated a connection between crystal use, unprotected sex and infections of HIV and other STD’s.  Here are some of the facts from those studies:  75% of crystal users did not use condoms all or part of the time they were high…crystal users were 3 times more likely to have rectal gonorrhea…crystal users were twice as likely to be HIV-positive…30% of people newly diagnosed with HIV reported crystal use.

The fact of the matter is that sex, drugs & partying have consequences…some of them very serious.  If you don’t party already, think seriously about the risks before you start.  If you do party, BE SAFE.  If you think you party too much or have a problem, get help.