Gay men gain "confidence," lose control with meth use
By Amy Herdy
Denver Post Staff Writer

Like an increasing number of gay men, Jason Fail was attracted to methamphetamine because it lifted his mood.

"I call it snorting pure confidence," said Fail, 25, of the drug he was addicted to for four years in his youth.

In metro Denver and nationwide, more gay men are using meth, drawn by its reputation as a party drug that enhances every nerve ending - especially during sex.

In Denver, recent surveys show meth use among gay men to be double the rate of use in the general population. Nationally, the trend has been noted in cities from Los Angeles to New York.
Meth use among gay men is becoming a serious public health issue because it encourages behavior that is risky for contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. story