LGBT Drug Treatment Blog

What is crystal methamphetamine?

What are the short-term effects of crystal meth use?

Crystal Methamphetamine, like cocaine, is a “psychostimulant” that increases the amount of at least three important brain chemicals called neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. As a result, methamphetamine can elevate your mood, induce euphoria, increase alertness, reduce fatigue, increase energy, decrease appetite, increase movement and speech, and provide a sense of increased personal power and prowess. This is the high you feel – you instantly become the “life of the party”. And, unlike the high from cocaine which is brief, the effect of meth lasts for six to eight to 12 hours or more depending how much you do.
Unfortunately, there’s also a down side. The same process produces increased blood pressure, heart rate and sweating, and can cause anxiety, irritability, insomnia, paranoia, and sometimes even psychosis. In addition, once the high wears off, mental and physical exhaustion set in often with a deep depression that sometimes includes thoughts of suicide.

What are the long term effects of crystal meth amphetamine use?

If youare looking for a drug rehab specializing in gay crystal meth addiction treatment program go to www.gay-rehab.com.
 

For many young gay or bisexual people, adolescence can be a time of particular anxiety and fear. Many lesbians and gay men look back on this part of their lives with sadness and regret. There are very few positive gay role models and a lot of hostility towards openly gay people. Gay teenagers often become painfully aware that they are not like other people and many become withdrawn and lonely, convinced that only they are feeling this way. They learn to hide their true feelings or act as others want them to, for fear of being ostracised, ridiculed or rejected by loved ones and friends.

Above all, there can be a sense that we are somehow different, that we are abnormal and that we are going to disappoint people.

Some people believe that if they get married their gay feelings will disappear. It is unusual for this to happen. Most store up a great deal of stress and anxiety for their later years. Coming out as a gay parent has particular challenges. Breaking out of a clearly defined role, or even attempting to shift the definition of it, involves tremendous courage and strength. The conflict between their relationship with their spouse and family and their need to be themselves can be enormous.

For those of you that have turned to drugs or alcohol as a means of coping with these feelings and are looking to locate a drug rehab, alcohol rehab or addiction treatment center, go to, www.gay-rehab.com or call 800-511-9225, a national helpline assisting people locate drug rehab programs in their areas.

Nobody knows for sure why some of us are gay and some of us are not. Lots of theories have been put forward ranging from genetic differences to overbearing parents. The evidence so far suggests that random genetic factors play a part in determining our sexuality in the same way they play a part in determining, for example, lefthandedness.

One thing we do know is that no-one chooses their sexuality. Some gay people knew they were different, if not gay, from as young as five or six. It is said that, for most of us, our sexuality is determined by the age of 12 or 13 and probably 16 at the latest. By and large, society tends to assume that everyone is, or wants to be, heterosexual. This is known as heterosexism. Some people continue to believe that it is a choice and that we can be persuaded into heterosexuality. By assuming heterosexuality, society gives rise to the dilemma, for those of us who know we are gay, of whether to hide our sexuality or to come out - with all that this entails.

There have been small but perceptible changes in the way British society views homosexuality, but there is a long way to go before it will accept us in the same way as it does people who are, say, lefthanded. This has more to do with society’s hang-ups around sex and sexuality than individual gay people. Often, once people know someone who is gay, their prejudices and fears about homosexuality disappear all together.

If you are gay, lesbian and having a problem with drugs or alcohol and looking for a gay friendly alcohol rehab or gay drug rehab, go to, www.gay-rehab.com

For some time I had been looking for a drug rehab that catered to the gay community, without beign a completely gay drug rehab. While I found several addiction treatment programs with what they called gay sensitive groups, these rehabs really didn’t have a gay addiction treatment component.

 When I stumbled across freedom Rings, I was so excited. It really had a gay addiction treatment program within the drug rehab. I felt comfortable in the Freedom Rings component and at the same time not wierd by being in an all gay drug rehab.

I really think you have a good thing here and can’t tell you how much it meant to me to be in a drug rehab that understands and likes the gay and lesbian community.

Thanks you for everything

Paul P.

“A Love To Hide” Is Shocking, Sentimental and Sweet
by Sierra Christman - Staff Writer
Thursday, November 9, 2006

“Meth” by Sierra Christman

Crystal methamphetamine. It’s not just an addictive drug; “It’s money, it’s trouble, it’s the devil, basically,” claims one of director Todd Ahlberg’s interviewees in his eye-opening documentary titled “Crystal Meth.” The film made its Santa Barbara debut at the OUTrageous! Film Festival on Sunday, Nov. 5 to a small but supportive audience, and was immediately followed by an emotional and thought-provoking panel discussion consisting of rehabilitated addicts, a drug rehab treatment specialist and an interviewee from the film.

Spectators were plunged head-first into the underground culture revolving around a drug that leaves users wanting more, even after intense drug rehab. If anything, “Crystal Meth” is remarkable in its intensity, which lasts from the first scenes of explicit drug use to the last scenes of one addict’s tragic decline. Interviewees recount their histories with crystal meth, from their first experiences through their drug rehab, and while a feeling of hope is palpable, you are never far from the harsh reality of perpetual drug addiction. Ahlberg stocks his cast with users, ex-users, dealers and users’ family members, who all recount similar tales of the link between crystal meth and homosexuality - a subculture within gay culture that one subject terms “a culture of irresponsibility.” Heart-wrenching to the point that it is at times difficult to watch, this movie sheds light on the important issues surrounding crystal meth usage from every angle. If the film shocks you with its unapologetic honesty and brutal truth about the relationship between the homosexual community and this addictive drug, then it has served its purpose. Though attention-holding to the last scene, “Meth” is clearly a film that seeks to inform and educate rather than entertain.

“A Love to Hide” by Sierra Christman

If you’ve relied on “Schindler’s List” and The Diary of Anne Frank as your primary Holocaust texts, you have missed out on learning about something equally tragic. An estimated 15,000 gay men lost their lives in concentration camps during World War II, a fact that director Christian Faure chronicles in his film, “A Love to Hide.” This French movie, subtitled in English, begins with Sara, a young Jewish woman who is seeking sanctuary in the home of her longtime friend, Jean - or rather, Jean’s lover, Philippe. The young gay couple risks their lives to help and hide their friend, and all goes well until the arrival of Jean’s younger brother, Jacques. In true love triangle form, Jacques falls in love with Sara and, in a rash attempt to win her affections, commits an unspeakable act that eventually leads the entire cast down a tragic path.

Faure artfully weaves genuine and timeless issues of tolerance, same-sex love and racism into a backdrop of historical fiction, and the result is a film that simultaneously shocks you, tugs at your heartstrings and pleases you. Beautifully acted and filmed, “A Love to Hide” is an epic, dramatic tale punctuated by factual information and historical truth. This film, a brilliant addition to the repertoire of intelligent and magnificent movies at the OUTrageous! Film Festival, is ground-breaking in that it speaks volumes about how far the gay and lesbian community has come in a few decades. Though the film does weigh heavy on the soul, it is a wonderful and powerful story of the persistence of hope and the strength of love of all kinds.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Communities Affected by the War on Drugs

Addiction treatment centers and alcohol rehab programs offer an intensive and comprehensive start for gay men and lesbians along their roads to addiction recovery and sober living. Also known as drug rehabilitation or “drug rehab” centers, addiction treatment centers offer facility-based programs of recovery from chemical dependencies such as alcohol addiction and drug addiction, and often include drug rehab programs for those with eating disorders and other more process-related issues in addition to substance abuse.

Depending on the needs and circumstances of the individual, inpatient addiction treatment  drug rehab programs can offer certain advantages over reliance solely on Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and other self and group help approaches for sobriety. Because they are administered by trained professionals, the gay man or lesbian is provided with the benefits of those with years of addiction training and experience in supporting alcoholics and addicts seeking recovery and to get sober. Whether as an initial contact, an adjunct to support groups such as AA meetings, or as ongoing follow up to rehab program work, the individual support and guidance of a trained, experienced, and licensed professional can be a valuable resource to the recovering alcoholic.

Also, addiction and gay alcohol rehab programs typically follow a prescribed protocol or addiction treatment track over a recommended period of time, resulting in a more intensive addiction recovery program than an addict or alcoholic might experience in a program of AA or NA meetings. This intensity may be further amplified by participating in an inpatient drug rehab that can provide support on a 24/7 basis and provide one the opportunity to develop closer personal bonds with sober gay men and sober lesbians.

The following listing is of drug rehab programs offered by addiction treatment centers that expressly seek to offer gay and lesbian friendly recovery toward sober living:

www.gay-rehab.com

www.lakeviewhealth.com

www.recoveryconnection.org

Alcoholism and drug addiction is a fatal chronic illness affecting the lives of 20 to 30% of the gay population (Ziebold ; Mongeon, 1982). Studies have found that 35% of lesbians had a history of excessive drinking, compared to only 5% of the heterosexual women in the sample (Saghir, 1970; Lewis, 1982). Approximately 30% of lesbians and gay men are addicted to drugs (Rofes, 1983). The facts show that the homosexual community constitutes a high-risk population with regard to alcoholism and drug addiction.

Why is drug addiction and alcohol addiction such a problem?

It is important not to assume that homosexuality causes gay drug addiction or gay alcohol addiction. When gays, lesbians and bisexuals internalize society’s homophobic attitudes and beliefs, the results can be devastating. Society’s hatred becomes self-hatred. As a minority group; gays, lesbians and bisexuals are victims of systemic and ongoing oppression. It can lead to feelings of alienation, despair, low self-esteem, self-destructive behaviour, and drug addiction (Nicoloff & Stiglitz, 1987). Some gays, lesbians and bisexuals resort to drug abuse or alcohol abuse as a means to numb the feelings of being different, to relieve emotional pain or to reduce inhibitions about their sexual feelings.

Drug abuse or alcohol abuse often begins in early adolescence when youth first begin to struggle with their sexual orientation. When surrounded by messages telling you are wrong and sick for who you are, eventually you begin to believe it. Having to hide your identity and deal with homophobic comments and attitudes– often made by unknowing friends and family — can have a profound effect on you. Lesbians and gay men are also 7 times more likely to be the victims of crimes than the average citizen (National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 1984). In response to this overwhelming oppression and homophobia, many lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals use alcohol and drugs to cope.

Homophobia in our society has limited the opportunities for gays and lesbians to meet each other safely. The gay bar culture emerged as a place to find other gays and lesbians without fear of harassment. The gay bar is a seductive institution. It is the most available place where people can explore being gay and socialize. There is also a lack of alternative alcohol-free places and occasions to socialize within the gay community. This only intensifies the implied connection between drinking and socializing in gay and lesbian social circles.

For those gay addicts or gay alcoholics seeking drug rehab or alcohol rehab, there are gay drug rehabs, gay alcohol rehab or drug rehabs with gay addiction treatment components where a gay or lesbian can expect to receive addiction treatment in a safe, gay friendly environment.

Suicide

More gays and lesbians have considered suicide an option than heterosexuals (Bell & Weinberg, 1978). Lesbian and gay youth are 2 to 6 times more likely to attempt suicide than other youth, and may account for 30% of all completed suicides among teens, although they account for only about 10% of teens (Cook, 1991).

If you are looking for alcohol rehab or a gay friendly addiction treatment program, you can go to www.gay-rehab.com or call 1-800-511-9225, Recovery Connection, a national referral helpline for the gay community.