Studies show gay men are more likely to take recreational drugs

Young gay men are more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to take recreational drugs, the findings of two studies show.

Almost one in three men questioned in the first survey took illegal substances such as ecstasy, marijuana or cocaine at least once a week. A further two-thirds had used drugs during the previous six months while lifetime use of cocaine was nearly double the level among heterosexuals.

The report, published in the American Journal of Public Health, was based on a four-year study of the lifestyles of 3,492 American men aged between 15 and 22 who had sex with other men.

The men most at risk from substance abuse were described by the report as "white, self-identified as bisexual or heterosexual, had run away or had experienced forced sex".

It concluded: "Effective drug prevention and treatment programmes ... are urgently needed for young men who have sex with men, a population with a high rate of illicit drug use."

The findings were echoed in a report published by Mind, the mental health charity, which confirmed that the trend of high levels of recreational drug use among homosexuals was replicated in Britain.

The report, which examined the mental health and social well-being of more than 2,200 gay men, lesbians, heterosexuals and bisexuals in England and Wales, found that levels of substance abuse peaked among gay men and lesbians.

The report said: "Levels of substance-use disorders were higher among gay men and lesbians, who were more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to have used recreational drugs."

The findings of the two studies were consistent with the "hedonistic" lifestyle commonly associated with the gay social scene, David Allison, spokesman for the gay rights organisation Outrage! said. "The gay scene has always been linked with clubbing and drugs have always been available," he said. "A lot of young gay people start clubbing on Friday and carry on until Monday morning. The need to do something like drugs is spurred on by the existence of hedonistic gay bars and nightclubs."

As well as the social environment, drug-taking may be linked to the fact that young gay people are frequently under more pressure in terms of their sexuality than their heterosexual counterparts, Mr Allison said.

"I think it's fair to say that most young gay people are under a lot more pressure than your average straight person and taking drugs will be a form of escapism."

"The findings of the two studies were consistent with the "hedonistic" lifestyle commonly associated with the gay social scene, David Allison, spokesman for the gay rights organisation Outrage! said. "The gay scene has always been linked with clubbing and drugs have always been available," he said. "A lot of young gay people start clubbing on Friday and carry on until Monday morning. The need to do something like drugs is spurred on by the existence of hedonistic gay bars and nightclubs."

What Homosexuals Say About Homosexuals - Is This Gay Behavior Sick?

""Let´s look at gay behavior as defined by two gays, Marshall Kirk and Hunter Madsen Ph.D., authors of After the Ball: How America will Conquer its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90´s (1989).
In Chapter Six, they outline “ten categories of misbehavior,” drawn from their own experiences, wide reading and thousands of hours of conversation with hundreds of other gays. Their contention is that the gay lifestyle, not gay sexuality mind you, “is the pits.” They want gays to improve their image by addressing “what is wrong with a lot of gays.” (276)
What follows are some highlights. As you read this, ask yourself if there is another human community, including the Mafia that could make these generalizations about itself. Ask yourself if we haven´t caught this disease, or at least the sniffles.

• The authors say “a surprisingly high percentage” of pathological liars and con men are gay. This results from a natural habit of self-concealment, and leads to a stubborn self-deception about one´s own gayness and its implications.
• They say gays tend to reject all forms of morality and value judgments. Gay morality boils down to “If it feels good, I´ll do it!” If a gay feels like seducing a trusted friend´s lover, he´ll do it, justifying it as an act of “sexual freedom” and the friend be damned.
• They say gays suffer from a “narcissistic” personality disorder and they give this clinical description: “pathological self absorption, a need for constant attention and admiration, lack of empathy or concern for others, quickly bored, shallow, interested in fads, seductive, overemphasis on appearance, superficially charming, promiscuous, exploitative, preoccupied with remaining youthful, relationships alternate between over idealization and devaluation.”
• As an example of this narcissism, the authors say “a very sizable proportion of gay men” who have been diagnosed HIV positive continue to have unprotected sex.
• They say the majority of gays are extremely promiscuous and self-indulgent. They must continuously up the ante to achieve arousal. This begins with alcohol and drugs and includes such “forbidden” aspects of sex as wallowing in filth (fetishism and coprophilia) and sadomasochism, which involves violence.
• They say many gays indulge in sex in public bathrooms and think it is antigay harassment when it is stopped. Many think they have a right to importune straight males, including children.
• Many gays are “single minded sexual predators” fixated on youth and physical beauty alone. When it comes to the old or ugly, gays are “the real queerbashers.” Disillusioned themselves, they are cynical about love.
• “Relationships between gay men don´t usually last very long.” They quickly tire of their partners and fall victim to temptation. The “cheating ratio of ‘married´ gay males, given enough time, approaches 100%.”
• Even friendships are based on the sexual test and hard to sustain. Unattractive gay men find it nearly impossible to find a friend, let alone a lover.
• The authors say gays tend to deny reality in various ways: wishful thinking, paranoia, illogic, emotionalism and embracing crackpot ideas.

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