Understanding the Risks
Why Prevention Matters
Meth and HIV prevention efforts should focus on: 1) preventing initial use of meth among non-users by influencing community norms, 2) discouraging occasional users from becoming regular users, 3) minimizing health risks for current users, and 4) increasing drug treatment capacity and getting meth abusers into accessible programs. Meth is cheap, widely available and has a high potential for abuse and addiction. Preventing onset of meth use in men who have sex with men (MSM) populations is also affective in preventing HIV.
Recognizing Red Flags
The gay community needs to address the very real pressure in some sub-communities to party and be highly sexually active, and to ask the question “is drug use worth the risks men are taking?” It is not enough to attempt to reduce drug and alcohol use and abuse without also addressing the powerful sexual reasons why MSM use drugs, and explore ways to develop a healthy and satisfying sex life without drugs.
Older Populations & Chem Sex
Meth users describe the positive effects to be feelings of euphoria, loss of appetite, heightened self esteem and increased desire for and intensity of sex. However, meth also has many negative short and long-term effects, including damaging brain neurons, high blood pressure, oral hygiene problems, depression, anxiety, paranoia and psychotic symptoms such as paranoid delusions and hallucinations.
How Our Center Helps
Recovery Groups & Support
Explore these links to find up to date information about meth use.
Resources
Local, state, and federal level resources are available to explore education, prevention, harm reduction and treatment.
Education
Safe partying and Sexual Health. Chemsex usually takes place in a private setting behind closed doors.
Our Center program support for MSM seeking recovery
Empower yourself by learning the facts about meth, sharing this information with your family and friends and speaking up about how meth can impact health. Our Center offers several different kinds of peer support groups to form community in recovery.
Community Resources. Get the help you need.
National Hotlines and Resources for Crystal Methamphetamine Use Support
Nevada State Resources for Crystal Methamphetamine Use Support
Reno/Sparks Substance Use Inpatient Treatment Facilities
Mutual Aid and Community Recovery Meetings
Outpatient Substance Use Treatment Programs
OUR Center Programs support for MSM seeking Recovery
National Hotlines and Resources for Crystal Methamphetamine Use Support
- Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA): 1-855-638-4373– Call for questions and general inquiries about CMA meetings near you.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA): 1-800-662-4357 – English or Spanish speaking representatives at SAMHSA can help you find drug treatment facilities, support groups, and other forms of help for drug abuse.
- National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence(NCAAD): This hotline will provide information and referrals to appropriate resources in your community. 1-800-NCA-CALL (622-2255).
- National Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255 – This national crisis hotline supports those having suicidal thoughts and those who are currently dealing with a suicidal person.
- Drugfree.org: Either call 855-378-4373 or text 55753 to speak with a representative who will provide education for yourself or your child, and help you understand what your next best step is. https://drugfree.org/article/understanding-chemsex/
- 988 Crisis Line. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential support for people in crisis, dealing with thoughts of suicide, or who are in distress. Call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for help.
- harmreduction.org/crystalmethblueprint
Nevada State Resources for Crystal Methamphetamine Use Support
- Nevada National Rehab Hotline: Call 1-866-210-1303. Available 24/7, the free and confidential Nevada Addiction Hotline offers assistance to Nevada residents dealing with addiction.1
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline: Call 1-800-662-HELP or text your zip code to 435748. The SAMHSA National Helpline is available 24/7 to connect you or your loved ones with a trained professional who can provide addiction-related resources.2
- National Drug Helpline: Call 1-844-289-0879. The National Drug Helpline is available to provide information and assistance for addiction needs 24/7. Conversation topics often include treatment options, information on how to support friends and family struggling with addiction, etc.3
- Nevada 211: Call 211 (or 866-535-5654) or text your zip code to 898211. Nevada’s 211 hotline provides 24/7 information and referrals for people in need of mental health care, adult protective services, healthcare, addiction services, and more.4
- Boys Town National Hotline: Text VOICE to 20121 or call 1-800-448-3000. This national teen support network is open 24/7 and offers both text and voice support to all genders. The hotline helps parents and teens better understand addiction and treatment.5
- Crisis Support Services of Nevada: Call or text 988. This Nevada-based support organization provides 24/7 assistance and referrals via phone or text to anyone experiencing a crisis.6
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Nevada HelpLine: Text HelpLine to 62640, email helpline@nami.org, or call 1800-950-NAMI (6264). This free, nationwide peer-support service offers information, resource referrals, and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers, and the public. The helpline is staffed Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.8
Reno/Sparks Substance Use Inpatient Treatment Facilities
- New Dawn Treatment Centers: https://www.newdawntreatmentcenters.com/
- Reno Behavioral Healthcare Hospital: https://www.renobehavioral.com/
- CrossRoads Human Services Agency: https://www.washoecounty.gov/hsa/adult_services/crossroads/index.php
- Hope Springs: https://www.nnhopes.org/programs/hope-springs/
- The Difference at Mount Rose: https://thedifferentsrehab.com/
- Bristlecone Recovery Center: https://bristleconereno.com/
- New Frontier: https://www.newfrontiernv.us/
- Vitality Integrated Programs: https://vitalityunlimited.org/
Mutual Aid and Community Recovery Meetings
- Northern Nevada Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous: https://nnig.org/
- Northern Nevada Sierra Sage Narcotics Anonymous: https://sierrasagena.org/find-a-meeting/
Outpatient Substance Use Treatment Programs
- Quest Counseling: https://www.questreno.com/
- Vitality Unlimited Outpatient Programs: https://vitalityunlimited.org/outpatient-services/
- Northern Nevada HOPES: https://www.nnhopes.org/patients/health-services/behavioral-health/
- Inclusive Counseling: https://www.inclusivecounseling.org/
- The Stacie Mathewson Behavioral Health & Addiction Institute: https://www.renown.org/locations/stacie-mathewson-behavioral-health-and-addiction-institute-at-renown/?utm_source=GMBlisting&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb
OUR Center Programs support for MSM seeking Recovery
- http://ourcenterreno.org
- Alphabet Soup Narcotics Anonymous Meeting (LGBTQ+), Tuesdays at 7pm
- Our & Sober Alcoholics Anonymous (LGBTQ+), Wednesdays at 6:30
- SMART Recovery, Friday at 4:30pm
- Queer All Recovery (LGBTQ+), 1st and 3rd Friday at 6pm
Education
Safe partying and Sexual Health. Chemsex usually takes place in a private setting behind closed doors. Making contact with other men who are looking for chemsex mostly occurs via dating sites and apps. A large percentage of MSM only use, or have used, meth when they have sex. The drug is taken in different ways. Smoking and slamming (injecting) are the most popular. Initial doubts someone may have about slamming often disappear if they trust the other person or as a result of peer pressure. Curiosity, after seeing others having such an intense experience, and the urge to go further than they normally would, also play an important part.
The stronger rush is often a reason to go from smoking to slamming. Almost all the men who have experience with slamming crystal meth originally smoked the drug.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) and who use crystal meth and/or ‘slam’ drugs are often not well informed about how to reduce sexual and other risks and about the long-term effects of their drug use. When people center caring for their bodies and behavior there are possibilities for better monitoring, prevention and care.
Safe Partying & Sexual Health
For effective prevention, MSM who have chemsex and condomless sex, but want to reduce the risk of HIV as much as they can, need to be provided with information about the advantages and disadvantages of different risk reduction strategies. Among other things, this information should stress that communication about HIV status, HIV and STI testing behavior and viral load is the key to risk reduction.
Need more details? We're happy to help!
Our Center provides case management and resource identification services.
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