Crystal Meth Use
New research into the extent of crystal meth-amphetamine use in London has been published in an international peer-reviewed journal – showing that about 10% of London’s gay men have used it. Most men used it infrequently – once or twice a year. The study also identifies a link between crystal meth and unsafe sex but the researchers were unable to establish cause-and-effect.
The findings, from City University, London, are published in the journal Addiction – shedding new light on the debate that has raged recently over uptake levels of the newly re-graded Class A drug. Crystal meth is a very strong stimulant which brings on an intense feeling of euphoria and lowers the user’s inhibitions.
How was the research carried out?
Nearly 400 HIV positive gay men attending an NHS drug rehab addiction treatment clinic in London were surveyed in 2002-2003. At the same time, nearly 300 negative gay men seeking an HIV test in an NHS sexual health or testing clinic were also surveyed in London. All men completed a self-administered questionnaire. The findings show:
13% of HIV positive men and 8% of HIV negative men had used crystal meth in the previous year
Most men were infrequent users – the majority had used it only once or twice in the previous year
For example, of the HIV positive men, 9% had used crystal meth-amphetamine once or twice in the previous year, 3% once or twice a month, while less than 1% had used it once a week or more
9 out of 10 crystal meth-amphetamine users had also taken other recreational drugs
Overall, men were less likely to have used crystal meth-amphetamine than other recreational drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy or ketamine
Men who had used crystal meth-amphetamine were two to three times more likely to report unsafe sex as men who had not used the drug
A key strength of the study is that NHS drug rehab addiction treatment clinics provide a broadly representative sample of HIV positive gay men. Consequently the estimate from the addiction treatment clinic is applicable to the wider population of HIV positive gay men in London.
Crystal Meth Use in the Gym
These findings were compared with research also carried out by City University (between 2003-2005) which surveyed around 500 gay men each year attending gyms in central London. Use in this group was much higher.
19.5% of men surveyed in the gyms had used crystal meth in the previous year (one in five).
However, as in the clinics, most men used crystal meth infrequently.
There was no evidence of increasing use of crystal meth between 2003-2005.
The higher percentage seen in the gyms (19.5%) probably reflects crystal meth use among gay men who are part of the London club-drug scene – the sample is not representative of all London gay men.
Findings of Gay Crystal Meth Use in London
Commenting on the findings, Professor Jonathan Elford from City University, London, said: “The research represents some of the first data on crystal meth-amphetamine use among the wider population of gay men in London. It shows that while 13% of HIV positive and 8% of HIV negative gay men in London have used crystal meth, most are infrequent users. We also know that use in the capital remained static between 2003 and 2005 and the levels reported here are not on the scale of crystal methamphetamine use in parts of the USA.
“However what is clear from the research in the gyms is that crystal meth is a part of the London gay club-drug scene. Health promotion and awareness campaigns around crystal meth must therefore focus on the gay club scene to have maximum impact.”
“We found that men who used crystal meth had also used other recreational drugs. In addition, we found a clear link between crystal meth use and unsafe sex. Men who used crystal meth were at least twice as likely to report unsafe sex as other men. However, it’s important to note that this was also true of men who used cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine.”
“What we don’t yet know is the nature of the association between drug use and high risk sex. It could be that some gay men follow a riskier lifestyle in general and crystal methamphetamine is simply part of this picture. More research is needed in this area to establish cause and effect. So while we can’t say that crystal meth use leads to unsafe sex, we need to be aware of the link between the two. Research into specific episodes of drug use and high risk sex would throw light on this issue.”
London’s Crystal Meth Use among the Gay
Will Nutland, Head of Health Promotion at Terrence Higgins Trust said: “This research adds to the growing understanding of crystal meth use among gay men in London and helps to ensure that our educational responses are properly grounded in evidence. As with other recreational drugs, crystal meth is used more by gay men with HIV and men who are part of the commercial gay clubbing scene. The Trust’s LADS outreach team has recently doubled its drugs education work in Vauxhall’s gay scene to continue to help gay men understand the effects of recreational drugs.”
The City University data broadly support preliminary findings from the National Gay Men’s Sex Survey carried out in 2005. In that survey, just over 6% of London gay men (mostly HIV negative) had used crystal in the previous year while 20% of HIV positive men in London had used it.
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