Meth Use Among NYC Gay Men Is Rising

According to anecdotal reports, Meth use among NYC gay men is on the rise again, Peter Statley of POZ reports. Initially, due to heavy meth prevention campaigns, there had been a significant drop in usage among gay men between 2004 and 2008. But now, looking at 2014 reports from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, POZ found that meth use has more than doubled in only three years.

Peter Staley writes:

"It's back to the drawing board, folks. New York State can kiss its Ending the AIDS Epidemic goals goodbye if it doesn't include meth prevention targeting a new generation of gay men who never witnessed the community's response launched in 2004 (with a big assist from annual city appropriations for meth prevention campaigns from 2004 to 2008)."

It seems meth usage has been increasing all over the nation. In Michigan, meth use has reached an all time high, Detroit Free Press reported last April; and in Indiana, state officials are attempting to pass a pharmaceutical bill that will reduce access to the drugs used to make meth and hopefully reduce the statewide epidemic.

Proactive actions are what's needed to end the rising crisis. To help, ACT UP New York has launched a Crystal Meth Group. Stately reports: "Step one-- bring NYC's Health Commissioner Mary Bassett up to speed (pun intended)."