In a study that’s sure to shock absolutely no one, Northwestern University just found that young gay and bi males who smoke Tina (that’s crystal meth for those of you not on a first name basis with Hurricane Tina) run a higher risk for catching HIV and generally acting like a ho-bag.
[The study] looked at data collected between January 2005 and August 2006 from 595 gay or bisexual men aged 12 to 24 living in eight U.S. cities. Of those males, 64 reported methamphetamine use within the previous 90 days.
Compared to those who had not used hard drugs, the participants who said they used methamphetamine were more likely to have a history of sexually transmitted diseases (about 52 percent vs. 21 percent), two or more sex partners in the past 90 days (about 86 percent vs. 63 percent), sex with an injection drug user (51.5 percent vs. about 11 percent), and sex with someone infected with HIV (about 33 percent vs. 11 percent).
Methamphetamine users were also less likely to use condoms during every sexual encounter: 33 percent vs. 54 percent.
In short, guys who do meth are more likely to have a life that resembles Trainspotting.
And the ad above is right—15 bucks for sex isn’t normal. You should at least charge 30.
Steve
Why did they only study gay and bi men? I’m pretty sure the results of that study are perfectly applicable across the board.
J.
Why to go with all the tact Queerty, you guys are so good at that!
Ted
It would be nice if there was a link to the study or the abstract.
Ted
@Steve: Because MSM are 15 times more likely to use meth and do different things on meth, based on a host of cultural factors, than straight men and women do. This is based on data from California in 2008 and studies done in SF, LA, NYC, and San Diego.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
What is it with the queer community and drugs? Seriously. Years ago I was friends with a 20-something twink who got mixed up with drug users, and 2 years later he was a total mess. Many years, and many STI’s later, (luckily, not HIV,) he’s become a steroid queen.
I remember when we just use to be alcoholics.
Haightmale
Big woo – this study really is irrelevant, it contains nothing that we didn’t already know.
If researchers want to study gay men – they should study why a disproportionate number of our community have issues surrounding depression. People that turn to meth, and use it regularly also have issues surrounding depression. It’s been cited that over 90% of people who use meth regularly have major depressive disorders.
Why are so many gay men using meth? Depressed much? There is a correlation, and it stands to reason that if medical professionals would diagnose and treat depression, HIV rates of infection would be reduced, as well as meth use.
But I forgot – our country doesn’t want “socialized” medicine. And we treat drug users with scorn. Oh well. Back to the drawing board.
http://jiveinthe415.com/
Daniel Villarreal
@Ted: We have added the link above.
Haightmale
PS: For the enemabag who is nostalgic for the days “we just use to be alcoholics.” Alcohol kills more people each year, that any single narcotic, or all narcotics combined.
Daniel MacDonald
Dear Queerty: Remember when you came back from the dead, and you promised you’d try and not be so snarky? You were going to try and NOT treat everything like a joke?
Posts like this and a few others today aren’t helping your “we’ll do better, promise!” claim.
kern
@Daniel MacDonald: oh chill out, It is a joke that someone who conducted the study only focus on gay/bi male while excluding the rest. Plus this article is what Queerty should strive for, straightforward, witty, sarcastic in the stupid thing people do..
beerwad
@Daniel MacDonald: If Queerty wasn’t so snarky, I wouldn’t read it, because it’d be like every other boring news blog on earth. If you don’t like it, go read the Advocate.
Chitown Kev
I can’t help but like this snark. This is the Queerty that I could get to love!
@Haightmale:
You’re right.
ChrisC
I wonder how long it will take for The FRC or NOM to report this study (Like they could care if we all died from AIDS/Meth), wonderful.
mike
@Ted: That is a bunch of crap.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515829/
Go to the charts, and you will see national use by 18-25 year-olds: males: 7.70% females: 4.4%
18-49 year-olds: males: 10.03% females: 7.27%
The study cited by Queerty was of 12-24 years-old, with 64 of 595 respondents, or 10.75%.
Certainly the age groupings do not overlap fully and there is the issue of studying residents of the 8 largest cities (study cited by Queerty) and a national tally (my link).
BUT NO WAY NO HOW are gay men using meth 15 times more than straight men. It is pretty darn similar is use rates.
hf2hvit
Steven Tyler said he liked heroin up his ass
Hyhybt
@Haightmale: Alcohol kills more people because its use is more widespread; the better comparison would be proportionate deaths.
QJ201
Meth induced power bottoms are way too much work.
Cam
@hf2hvit:
Probably because he didn’t have any veins left anywhere else.
James
Is this really surprising to anyone?
PazMateo
$29.99 sounds better and would defs lure more johns.
mike moore, a guy who's been homeless.
I’m dumbstruck at how many of you are cynical hard-hearted DOUCHEBAG FAGGOTS*** … including you, Queerty.
12 years old – where were you when you were 12?
60% of this study’s age-parameter belongs to teenagers, and that parameter begins with 12 year old kids.
12. TWELVE. 6TH GRADERS. CHILDREN.
Many of these kids are living on the streets, selling their innocence and bodies, often because they’ve been abused and/or thrown out of their homes for being gay.
But don’t worry, I’m sure you’re actually good guys. After all, you’d offer them $15 for sex. Oh, sorry, my mistake, I guess the going rate for a 12yo can be as high as $30. Just curious: how much is 13yo worth to you?
_______________________
** I believe the word “faggot” is a terrible word, a word which has and which can pierce our heart, a word I have never used until today … but today, a lot of you have earned it.
catinhat
@mike moore, a guy who’s been homeless
What in the world?
Sebizzar
I have low self esteem & everything, but i’m so glad i’ve never done any drugs or drank any alcohol & i want it to stay that way.