Gays' Use of Viagra and Methamphetamine Is Linked to Diseases

NY Times ^ | March 11, 2004 | LAWRENCE K. ALTMAN

[neverdem]

PHILADELPHIA, March 10 — The expanding recreational use of crystal methamphetamine and Viagra is apparently fueling increases in syphilis, H.I.V. and other sexually transmitted diseases among gay and bisexual men in the United States, according to new studies reported here on Wednesday.

At a meeting on preventing sexually transmitted diseases, Dr. Samuel J. Mitchell of the San Francisco Health Department said a study had found that 17.4 percent of 1,263 gay men who had gone to the city's sexually transmitted disease clinic had used crystal in the four weeks before their visit. Crystal users were more than twice as likely as nonusers to be infected with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, 4.9 times as likely to receive a diagnosis of syphilis and 1.7 times as likely to test positive for gonorrhea.

Dr. William Wong of the San Francisco Health Department said that another study found that gay men who used both crystal and Viagra together were 6.1 times as likely to receive a diagnosis of syphilis as those who did not use either drug.

In a study of 388 gay men, Dr. Gordon Mansergh reported that his team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the San Francisco Health Department found that 16 percent had used crystal methamphetamine the last time they had anal sex. Crystal users in the study were twice as likely as nonusers to have engaged in unprotected receptive anal intercourse. In the men's last anal sex encounter, 6 percent had used Viagra. The Viagra users were 6.5 times more likely to report having had unprotected insertive anal sex during that encounter. Viagra was not linked to receptive anal risk behavior.

For three consecutive years through 2003, syphilis rates among women have fallen by 50 percent but have increased by 65 percent among men. Among women in 2003, there were 1,229 syphilis cases reported, down from 2,445 in 2000. Among men in 2003, there were 5,844 cases, up from 3,532 in 2000. Gay men accounted for more than 60 percent of all syphilis cases in 2003, compared with 5 percent in 1999.

"We are very, very concerned" about the trend, Dr. Ronald O. Valdiserri, an official of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference at the meeting.

Health officials from Seattle also reported a sharp increase among gay men in cases of gonorrhea that is resistant to a commonly prescribed antibiotic, ciprofloxacin.

As an alternative, many doctors are now prescribing another antibiotic, cefpodoxime, that has not been as well studied for its effect against gonorrhea, said Dr. Hunter H. Handsfield of the Seattle-King County Health Department and University of Washington.

From October 2003 through December 2003, ciprofloxacin-resistant gonorrhea accounted for 22 of 133 cases, or 16.5 percent, compared with 6 of 159 cases, or 3.8 percent, from July through September 2003. The overwhelming majority of drug-resistant gonorrhea was among gay men. Such drug-resistant gonorrhea has also being reported in Boston and New York.

Los Angeles County health officials reported new evidence from two studies that the Internet and commercial sex clubs helped increase syphilis rates among gay men. One study found that 22 percent of those who received a diagnosis of syphilis had met sexual partners on the Internet about the time they were most likely infected. A second study found that 28 percent of gay men with syphilis met sex partners at commercial sex clubs.

[neverdem]

It used to be better living through chemistry. Now it's a worse death. What's a sex club, a Plato's Cave for blades?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Dr. William Wong of the San Francisco Health Department...

[chance33_98]

I got my Bong and Mr. Wong...

[Bismarck]

Should we be surprised? Flaming and scandalous gay men consuming an illegal drug and a pill for old farts only means trouble...

[vpintheak]

Who'd a thunk it? Gay sex clubs, drugs, and disease. Gee, I never saw that one coming.

[Diddle E. Squat]

OK, here's a concern: are these junkies going to burn through antibiotics and hyperbreed resistant strains of non-STD health problems, so their actions impact the general community?

Methinks tolerance would rapidly decline if it is perceived that little toddler Janes and Justins died of a superresistant flu or staph. Of course overapplication of antibiotics at the insistence of idiot soccer moms share much of the blame, but they are a much bigger voting population, emotional, and quite likely to overlook their own cupability.

[calcowgirl]

Smoking and junk food are verboten... but drug use and deviant sex is embraced.

I'm suprised someone in SF didn't censor this report.

[chance33_98]

I'm suprised someone in SF didn't censor this report.

Scary thing is, maybe this is censored version...

[Michael Barnes]

I am not defending meth. In fact, I hate it; it almost cost me my life. However, knowing meth like I do (did?), I can only imagine that the sleep deprevation that meth enduces is part of the problem. When I was up on meth (for days), my thought processes were not exactly civil (Saw some wild sh*t due purely to sleep deprevation); mind you, I am not gay, never engaged in such and never (while using or not) sought.
These idiots doing meth AND viagra? Damn, my heart would have exploded.

When I FINALLY kicked meth, I slept for 40+ hours. My room mate woke me 'cause he thought I might be dead. (nice of him to wait for 28 hours)

[Jeff Chandler]

Will there be Social Security for the surviving spouses?

[Bismarck]

Viagara and Meth are heavily used in the infamous circuit parties... and then people are suprised about the sudden raise in HIV infections.

[neverdem]

PING

[EGPWS]

The expanding recreational use of crystal methamphetamine and Viagra is apparently fueling increases in syphilis, H.I.V. and other sexually transmitted diseases among gay and bisexual men in the United States, according to new studies reported here on Wednesday.

Thank God for that informative study, NOW I understand. /sarcasm

[EGPWS]

Smoking and junk food are verboten... but drug use and deviant sex is embraced.

Kinda' like an old rectangle picture in an oval picture frame.

I just "don't" fit does it!

[neverdem]

OK, here's a concern: are these junkies going to burn through antibiotics and hyperbreed resistant strains of non-STD health problems, so their actions impact the general community?

Good question. I remember reading a report about drug-resistant Staph out in Californicanio about these bugs getting spread in jails somehow. It was associated with "bear-hugging", or should that be "bare-hugging"?

[neverdem]

Something to pray for Divine intervention.

[heleny]

For three consecutive years through 2003, syphilis rates among women have fallen by 50 percent but have increased by 65 percent among men. Among women in 2003, there were 1,229 syphilis cases reported, down from 2,445 in 2000. Among men in 2003, there were 5,844 cases, up from 3,532 in 2000. Gay men accounted for more than 60 percent of all syphilis cases in 2003, compared with 5 percent in 1999.

Approximate Syphilis cases (men):
Year   homosexual (%)  not-homosexual (%)  total
2000:    177     (5%)   3355  (95%)        3532
2003:   3506    (60%)   2338  (40%)        5844
change: 3329 (+1881%)  -1017 (-30%)        2312 (+65%)

It must be scary for doctors treating syphilis to see 20 times as many cases among homosexual men after only three years.

If recreational use of Viagra is contributing to this public health problem, it seems that the government should prosecute that type of prescription drug abuse before they prosecute abuse of prescription painkillers. After all, curbing the spread of STD's in the population is more beneficial to everyone than curing a pain sufferer's addiction.

[NYer]

Expect medical insurance rates to rise as these folks demand a 'cure'.

Homosexual ping!

[ex-Texan]

Male homosexuals and lesbians use crystal meth like candy. STD's are very common. One of the most obvious side effects of sexual promiscuity among homosexuals is an increased chance of early demise from AIDS and syphilis.

There are ads in Los Angeles County gay rags advertising "Vampire Parties" for homosexual men. Rumors are out there these social affairs are meeting places for advanced perversions, blood feasts and satanic cults. Just thought I would post this warning.

It appears to me that Gibson's portrayal of the Devil as a woman with a man's voice was a subtle comment on homosexual subcultures. However, I could be mistaken.

[Jimmy Valentine]

I am beginning to favor the Cuban solution.

HIV positive, or full blown AIDS carriers should be isolated on some inconvenient island off the coast.

Regards,