"Methamphetamine use is twenty times greater among homosexuals than in the general population." http://www.narth.com/docs/methuse.html "Gay and lesbian high schoolers in Washington, DC are 10 times more likely to have used Methamphetamine than their peers." http://current.com/items/88887150_h...dc-10-times-more-likely-to-have-used-meth.htm Discuss? Meth isn't really one of those "I'm depressed because everyone hates me because of my sexuality, going to smoke some crystal, make me feel better" type drug. You would drink alcohol, smoke weed, do heroin, etc to cure that. Crystal is a sex/clubbing/working drug. Also on a side note people in gay relationship I've known have had alot of problems, they both drink heavily, smoke pot, engage in other drug use. So basically my question is do gays need to absorb themselves in drugs/alcohol to cope with their lifestyle? And don't give me any of those "I know tons of gay couples who are happy blah blah blah" and some light reading below http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090817024752AAcNVl8
it's not so much for coping (only idiots do drugs for that reason) but simply because one likes drugs and the particular altered state of mind that they produce.
true, constantly turning to substances to solve your problems never really fixes them. But drugs and alcohol are good for temporary relief. I disagree when you say only idiots do that. when someone smokes a bowl or drinks at the end of the day or a long week, what are they doing? they are coping with their stress by useing a substance, relieving it. allowing the substance to take over is foolish, allowing it to help relieve, is not. that being said, i dont think the gay lifestyle is one that needs to be "coped with." at least for gays who are okay with who they are. I'm gay, and i love drugs and drinking too. they dont really have anything to do with each other though...I think the reason drug use is so big in the gay community is because gay people are generally just open minded and liberal just because of who we are. extremely liberal people are more open to things like drug use.
I think it's about staying up to party and fuck rather than coping with problems. Once you get into it it's hard to get out. Meth is one of the most addictive drugs out there.
Each guy must have his own reason and his own story. I believe that most people tend to mimic other people under similar circumstances. (Monkey see - Monkey do) So, you went to that party, and yeah everybody was drinking, so you joined in. You did not want to be an outsider, rite? By analogy, once you went to a place where loads of people were doing drugs, you joined in, to be one of the 'in-crowd'. Few people out there really lack the knowledge that substance abuse of any kind won't bring about the solution to any of their life problems. This is what other people do, so you do it, too. Another big reason why gay men may be more prone to drug abuse is a simply that they CAN. (The dog licks his balls because he can...) We do have a greater disposable income. We rarely have kids and families to take care of. We are responsible for ourselves only. So, yeah, we CAN and DO indulge, too. I also believe that many people go into substance abuse of any kind simply to grant themselves some sort of a 'reward' for all the trouble they have had, and for all the work they had to put in. The world out there is a very competitive place. If you want to get at the top of the game, and stay there to, you are in for a very rough ride. That you want to compensate yourself for all of that suffering is neither strange nor extraordinary. It takes quite some skill to learn to shrug away with your shoulders and say, "Wow. I have put this shit behind me, and am now happy to move on. I'll reward myself with whatever I want, and can afford for as long as it does no harm to me." KD
I think drugs play a big part of the gay night scene, I have seen it. I feel the above poster hit the nail on the head in regards to disposable income, this is a good explanation perhaps to why many gay people take such substances. And truly, I doubt highly these people who take them for the sake of 'coping with ones lifestyle'. Sure you don't want to hear this, like asked, but there is no other answer- not everyone gay man is unhappy they are gay. It's like you want someone to turn around and say, 'I take drugs, because I can't cope with my sexuality'. I think gay or strait, everyone takes drugs for the same reason, and there could be hundreds of reasons. Personally I think Meth is probably just a good drug to take on a night out? I would be interested to see similar results to other drugs. Arguably if more heterosexual people smoke weed, does that mean they are equally sad and can't cope with their lifestyle? All in all, I am actually strait edge anyways, and have been for years. I just see this sort of destruction around me, and from experience sexual preference seems to play a small part in it, looking at the demographic or users. Availability is another thing, and Gay clubs seem to have such things readily available.
