September 28, 2020 | Health Matters

Biggest risk for gay men becoming HIV+: crystal meth

As the battle with HIV continues, many people are relying on condoms or PrEP to help prevent its spread. Still, the disease is affecting gay and bi men around the world; and one of the reasons is the continued use of the party drug crystal meth.

Meth -- also known as crystal, Tina or ice -- is a drug used to fuel partying and sexual encounters because it releases the brain's stress hormone norepinephrine and 'feel good' chemicals dopamine and serotonin.

According to Trade Sexual Health:

Crystal can make a man feel very horny, even sexually compulsive, shagging with lots of men during sex binges. Some guys on crystal do sexual stuff they wouldn't normally do, including risking picking up or passing on HIV.

Crystal often stops men from coming or getting a hard-on (known as 'crystal dick').

Long or rough crystal-fuelled sex sessions can cause sore or bleeding arses, dicks and mouths. These might not be noticed but mean more risk of HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections being passed on.

Researchers at the City University of New York followed 4,800 mostly queer cisgender men aged 16-49 who were recruited through dating apps. All participants started the study as HIV-negative and were not on PrEP. The men were asked about meth use, and tested for HIV a year later.

Sadly, 14 percent of participants who claimed "persistent" meth use -- using it before and throughout the study -- became HIV-positive over that year.  Overall, only 2.5 percent of study participants become HIV+.

Men 36-45 reported the most meth use; those living in Western states were also more likely to be users. Though use of the drug has decreased in most populations, it is still too popular in the gay community.

“Methamphetamine exacerbates HIV risk via increasing sexual libido while simultaneously reducing inhibitions,” the authors stated, according to AIDSMap. “Our findings highlight the need to address methamphetamine use and its associated risks among sexual and gender minorities, the likes of which may also serve to help end the HIV epidemic.”