Study shows highs and lows of gay Aussie drug users

[Chip (OP)]

source: http://www.samesame.com.au/news/13291/Study-shows-highs-and-lows-of-gay-Aussie-drug-users

Study shows highs and lows of gay Aussie drug users



Fri 12th Feb, 2016.

A survey of over 2,000 gay and bisexual men in Australia suggests recreational drug use is fairly common, but dependency is low.

Published by the Kirby Institute at UNSW Australia, the Flux Study has found over three quarters of gay and bisexual men have used illicit drugs at some stage, with half reporting drug use in the last six months.

The 2,251 men who answered the research questions were recruited from a call-out on Facebook. The full report will be released next year.

The most commonly and frequently used drugs are marijuana and amyl nitrite (‘poppers’). Over a quarter of the men surveyed had used some sort of ‘party drugs’ in the previous six months, including cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants such as ecstasy, speed and crystal meth.



Despite recent media attention given to ‘ice’ use among gay men, only a small minority of respondents reported using crystal meth weekly, or having a dependency on crystal meth. One in eight men surveyed had used crystal meth recently, but the majority indicated they did so without harmful consequences.

A small proportion of recent crystal meth users expressed some concern about their use, with one-third feeling that at times they wish they could stop. Only a small minority reported feeling dependent about their drug use in general.

The most common reasons given for illicit drug use among respondents were pleasure and to enhance their sexual enjoyment.

Only about one in ten recent users of illicit drugs had discussed their drug use with their doctors.

“While most gay men appear to use illicit drugs with minimal risk, there is a minority who experience problems,” says Flux Study researcher Garrett Prestage.

“Increasing our understanding about the behaviours, attitudes and social networks in the context of drug use in these communities will give us a better understanding of the factors that lead to problematic drug use, and allow us to target our harm reduction interventions more appropriately.”

TOUCHBASE

Statistics regularly show LGBT Australians are more likely than the rest of the population to use drugs, so it’s important to get the facts out there about safety and harm prevention.

A collaboration between the Victorian AIDS Council, the Australian Drug Foundation and the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, new website Touchbase provides facts and support for LGBTI Australians about a range of issues.

It includes a big list of drug types, telling all about their effects, safety hints, how they mix with other drugs, how they interest with HIV meds, plus support service suggestions for those who are having a difficult time managing their use.

[Griffin]

I think the stigma here is that most single gay men use drugs frequently and prefer uppers such as meth, coke, and ecstasy. However, I haven't heard any thing about the drug use rates among single or married gay women. Do gay women have the same stigma attached? Do you think they use the same amount of drugs, or more or less than gay men?

Do you think gay people use drugs more often the straight people over all? Do you think gay people who are single, use more drugs than gay people who are in relationships or married? Do you think gay women and men who are in relationships or married use more drugs than the average straight person. Do gay people tend to use more drugs when they are single as opposed to being in a relationship?  Do you think the stigma that single gay men use drugs more frequently than heterosexual people is true? Do you think single gay men use more or less when they are in a relationship or married?