LGBT Drug Treatment Blog

Some users who have sex while high on crystal can stay active for hours. Others experience the inability to get erect. Often, men will use crystal in combination with Viagra to get or keep an erection. This can potentially raise your blood-pressure to dangerously high levels which can take you steps closer to an overdose or give you a really long lasting erection that can permanently damage the muscles and tendons in your penis.
The inability to get an erection can often lead someone who usually tops to bottoming. And in whichever position, some guys report dispensing with using a condom from the start. Remember: unprotected anal sex is the leading cause of HIV transmission.
If you are HIV positive• If you are HIV positive, you should know that Crystal speeds up the rate of HIV replication.
• Crystal reduces the effectiveness of HIV meds (HAART).
• Some protease inhibitors like Amprenavir (Agenerase) increase the amount of amphetamine in your blood stream, putting you at risk for an overdose.
• The lifestyle connected to crystal meth use can exhaust your immune system and affect your ability to take medications as prescribed.
• Using crystal meth may affect your decisions. You may decide not to use condoms. If you have sex without a condom, you are likely to transmit the virus to your partner(s).
• These findings make it even more important for you to take better care of yourself and to reconsider your use of crystal.
If you are HIV negative:• Research has connected the rise of HIV infection rates amongst gay men to crystal use
• Crystal meth is known to impair judgment and can lead to unsafe sex… and HIV.
• Crystal meth is known to reduce inhibitions allowing men to engage in rough sex, or bottom.
• Crystal meth can complicate your decisions on condom use
• These findings make it even more important for you to take better care of yourself and to reconsider your use of crystal
Safer Sex Tips• Stay mindful of your sexual limits. Identify ways to ensure you use a condom.
• Tops need condoms too. Protect yourself. Topping without a condom still holds significant risk for HIV transmission.
• Remember to reapply lube frequently to prevent the condom from drying out and to prevent the lining of your rectum from tearing, both of which increase the risk of HIV transmission.
• Condoms wear out. Change the condom during extended sessions.
• Lube keeps condoms from breaking.
• Discuss your HIV status with your sex partners.
Health Concerns to Remember
• Crystal is highly addictive. Use may change from snorting to smoking or slamming — or from using socially to using alone.
• Binging postpones the end of the party but will make the crash worse.
• Tolerance develops quickly. You will need more and more crystal to get high.
• Crystal meth addiction will decrease your desire for food.
• Crystal meth addiction will impact your perceived need for sleep.
• Crystal meth adiction can cause exhaustion and dehydration.
• Crystal meth addiction can lead to depression and cause temporary psychosis.
• Agitation and anxiety are common when using crystal.
• Crystal meth adddiction treatment is available in drug rehabs everywhere