Living in the net

Overview:
Studies conducted since the 1970s have suggested a higher prevalence of alcohol and drug use in lesbian, gay, bi and transgender (LGBT) communities compared to the general population. Of all the communities affected by the increased use of “party” drugs like cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy, X), ketamine (special K), amyl nitrate (poppers), and methamphetamines (crystal meth), gay men are perhaps most notably affected. In addition to their dangerous physiological effects, these drugs cause disinhibition, incaution, and, some say, heightened sexual arousal. Health providers believe they hinder safe sex practices, that they have catalyzed recently increased rates of gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis A, and HIV in metropolitan LGBT communities, and that they are a serious LGBT health concern. Many providers find the correlation between party drug use and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in urban gay male populations in their locality.
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