Drugs and Being Gay
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Why is it that 98% of gay men use drugs of some sort or another? I'm in a LTR of 28 years and quit the drug thing 23 years ago however my partner still to this day can't seem to stop using. All of our gay friends use as well. Is this typical to the lifestyle? Just curious… ???
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As a rule I don't play with men who do drugs but to each his own. The 30-40ish gays I play with aren't really interested with 420 or anything else. Maybe it's a phenomenon among the younger guys but I dare say that it isn't limited to gays 18-25 but alot of younger folks trying to "find themselves".
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Your comment is valid one, but raises some questions of its own:
The statistic of 98% is coming from were? What methadology was used in the collection of this sample data?
A drug is any substance other than food or water that, when ingested, alters the physiological structure of the body. By this definition, alcohol is a drug.
Is it right and moral that the one drug that kills more people every day (gay and straight) than any other substance, is perfectly legal to obtain?
Or is your question directed towards an understanding of what biological and evolutionary benefits could possibly be gained from the use of chemical substances–enough to justify the altering of one's emotions--concomitant with the risk of addiction that frequently accompanies so many of these endeavors?
The questions raised by your comment are too numerous to address here. Suffice it to say that it would be a mistake to label one segment of society as being more prone to addiction than any other. On that point, if it is gay people who experience drug use more often, I would venture to guess that the reason is perhaps the hatred, suspicion, and outright hostility towards an outcast society of people whom, after being persecuted for centuries around the globe and living a life without a deserved dignity, must share the blame for making uninformed choices to use these mood-altering substances.
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war on drugs? war on gays? war on drug using gays? war on gays cause they are drug-users?
i think this is a dangerous hypothesis. i have read studies that smoking, anxiety, and depression are more prevalent in gay versus straight males; however i hope no studies find a correlation between gays and hard-drug use. i could only imagine what such studies could do as far as throwing fuel on the anti-gay movement in america.
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The 98% statistic is just from personal observation and I didn't make that clear in my original post. As far as fueling anti-gay rhetoric, please read the following which explains why gay people tend to use more often:
Alcoholism and alcohol dependency is a fatal chronic illness affecting the lives of nearly 30% of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population (GLBT). Studies have found that 35% of lesbians had a history of gay alcohol abuse, compared to only 5% of the heterosexual women. In addition, further studies have shown that 30% of lesbians and gay men suffer from drug abuse or drug addiction, suggesting that the gay and lesbian community constitutes a high-risk population with regard to alcohol abuse and drug abuse.
Why is Gay Drug Abuse and Gay Alcohol Abuse Such a Problem?
It is important not to assume that homosexuality causes gay drug abuse or gay alcohol abuse. When gay men, lesbians and bisexuals internalize society's homophobic attitudes and beliefs, the results can be devastating. Society’s hatred becomes self-hatred. It can lead to feelings of alienation, despair, low self-esteem, self-destructive behavior and substance abuse. Some gay men, lesbians and bisexuals resort to substance abuse as a means to numb the feelings of being different, to relieve emotional pain or to reduce inhibitions about their sexual feelings.
Where Gay Substance Abuse and Gay Alcohol Abuse Begins and Ends
Gay substance abuse often begins in early adolescence when youth first begin to struggle with their sexual orientation. When surrounded by messages telling you that you are wrong and sick for who you are, eventually you may begin to believe it. Having to hide your identity and deal with homophobic comments and attitudes — often made by unknowing family and friends — can have a profound effect on you. In response to this overwhelming shame and homophobia, many lesbian, gays and bisexuals turn to alcohol abuse and drug abuse.
If you need help locating a gay friendly drug rehab or gay friendly alcohol rehab, you can go to www.recoveryconnection.org or call 1-800-511-9225, the national drug abuse helpline.
Jonathan Huttner is a partner in freedom rings, a GLBT addiction treatment component of Lakeview Health Systems. Lakeview specializes in the treatment of drug addiction, alcoholism and dual diagnosis.
Article Source: hxxp://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Huttner
cumeaternc edit: disabled live link
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The main reason so many GLBTs use drugs is because of society always telling us we are evil. Once we are normalized in society's eyes, then you can bet that the use of drugs will go do to the same sort of levels seen in heteros.
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I think that its a shame that people have to use drugs during sex. The only think that I've ever done were poppers and stopped that many years ago. I guess its just generational. I prefer to feel everything naturally!
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Gay people, by virtue of the uniqueness of the homosexual life experience have a seemingly natural proclivity for not just drug use but also a multitude of other traits, tendencies and abilities that have potential to be negative or positive. Once we learn this we will be empowered dramatically.
We, as a group within our species, are in the infancy of our identity! -
cos we're forced to lol
it seems the gay world comes to life over here in the uk after pub closing times
trying to stay up n active till closing time without some kind of stimulant i would image to be very difficult if not close to impossible
especially if it's night after night
i don't do drugs but i sometimes take the herbal substitutes
they certainly help keep me awake n alive through the nightbut is it just a gay thing or a night club thing in general ?
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but is it just a gay thing or a night club thing in general ?
It must be a nightclub thing because none of our friends use drugs, but we aren't nightclubbers.
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98%? Where are the figures on that? ???
Or did they count caffeine and alcohol as drugs?
I don't think this is representative of homosexual men, at all.
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[off-topic]DAB what a naughty avatar you have. >:D Where did you get it?[/off-topic]
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I can't remember really, I think it was when I was trying to find back this hxxp://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QBN0qst0p7o/R-Aw8JWgsQI/AAAAAAAAA3k/GEXT3FC2epM/s1600/sataninreligion.jpg picture, looking for 'Satan in Religion'. I'm using it on multiple forums.
I regret not knowing who the artist is (the downside to all this information spreading on the Internet), I would have praised him (or her) for it everywhere I go.
But yours ain't so bad either. Patrick Fillion?
cumeaternc edit: disabled live link
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Gay bars and clubs, and the majority subset of gays that frequent them, are what a lot of people think of when they talk about "gay life" or "gay culture". I know they were my only points of access for years, and I don't think I'm in the minority there. That's probably a big factor in all the drug and alcohol use, you think?
In my experience (without looking for studies), gays also tend to have more stress and internal conflicts, hence more need for escapism.
I think another factor is the fact that every guy who identifies as gay has by definition faced down one of the biggest taboos there is (in most cultures). We know from personal experience that "what everyone knows" is horse crap, and one of the most empowering points in all of our lives (coming out) came from, essentially, telling society to fuck off and doing our own thing. I believe that, having done that, we're a lot more open to examining other taboos - extreme forms of kinky sex, for a prominent example; sexual chastity in relationships… I'm sure you can think of others. For me, it was a very tiny step to indulging my curiosity about mind-altering substances. I guess I'm saying that, yes, being gay is a gateway drug. ;D
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I don't see anything wrong with some drugs. A few of them have few to no negative side effects. It's just the bad ones that I refuse to go near such as cocaine, heroin, etc.
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I don't see anything wrong with some drugs. A few of them have few to no negative side effects. It's just the bad ones that I refuse to go near such as cocaine, heroin, etc.
This is not a judgement at all but I am curious…what are the "good drugs"?
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I guess caffeine isn't so bad, the other drugs… I don't know. I've seen people in some really bad trips over just a joint or space-cake - of course in combination with an abundance of alcohol, but nonetheless, far worse off than when they had just been really drunk. You really learn to treat them like small children in such states, because there is no reasoning possible on any sophisticated level. Comforting them and securing their vitals is all we can do while waiting for the ambulance.
So I'm a bit sceptical about these 'good drugs'.
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A drug is any substance other than food or water that, when ingested, alters the physiological structure of the body. By this definition, alcohol is a drug.
Is it right and moral that the one drug that kills more people every day (gay and straight) than any other substance, is perfectly legal to obtain?
Or is your question directed towards an understanding of what biological and evolutionary benefits could possibly be gained from the use of chemical substances–enough to justify the altering of one's emotions--concomitant with the risk of addiction that frequently accompanies so many of these endeavors?
The questions raised by your comment are too numerous to address here. Suffice it to say that it would be a mistake to label one segment of society as being more prone to addiction than any other. On that point, if it is gay people who experience drug use more often, I would venture to guess that the reason is perhaps the hatred, suspicion, and outright hostility towards an outcast society of people whom, after being persecuted for centuries around the globe and living a life without a deserved dignity, must share the blame for making uninformed choices to use these mood-altering substances.
Strictly speaking, Alcohol is not the cause of those deaths directly. To be precise, the reason for many Alcohol related deaths is a person's lack of awareness of their limits. Alcohol when consumed in reasonable quantities can be perfectly safe (generally speaking, of course there are those who can become drunk very easily) and many find it enjoyable to drink, only when one consumes too much so that it affects their concentration, motor control and cognitive functions does it become dangerous. Thus, the problem is people consuming too much drink, not that it is by itself dangerous.
Regarding the link between the LGBT community and drug use, this is the best article I could find. hxxp://www.lgf.org.uk/drugs/
