A History of Drug Addiction in the GLBT Community

Throughout the past century, the GLBT community in the United States has seen its fair share of triumphs and setbacks. Gay men and women have gained a level of mainstream acceptance that many thought would never be possible, but many have struggled with discrimination and other social issues that have been have hampered true progress.

Through it all, there has been a pervasive drug-related element within the GLBT community that has been both destructive and in some cases, even deadly. The following information outlines a brief history of drug addiction within the gay, lesbian and transgender community – and how it has impacted everyday people.

Alcohol Addiction and the GLBT Community

The first addiction scourge of the gay and lesbian community was alcohol. When open discrimination against gay men and women was more prevalent, many congregated in bars and other establishments where they could be more open about the sexuality. The considerable amount time spent at this burgeoning "bar scene", coupled with the shame placed on them by mainstream society caused many to develop an alcohol addiction as a result of using liquor as a means of escape.

The Speed Era in the Gay Community

In the mid-1990's researchers and drug counseling professionals began to see a rise in the use of speed and other amphetamines among gay men. In a relatively short period of time, the stimulant would replace alcohol as the number one drug among the gay men living in major urban areas throughout the country – with a particularly incidence on the East Coast. Speed, the professional community found, was being used to enhance the party scene – keeping individuals up throughout the evening to engage in drugs and sexual promiscuity.

The Rise of Crystal Meth

Many within the GLBT community believed that speed was the most destructive drug that they would ever see abused en masse among gay men and women. But the rise of crystal meth addiction among gay men would leave many longing for the relative "innocence" of those days. Crystal meth has created a wealth of problems within the gay community. First, the drug itself carries with it a variety of serious health problems, including "meth mouth", liver problems, heart conditions and other issues. Secondly, crystal meth lowers inhibitions, which can lead to unprotected sex with multiple partners. With HIV/AIDS still casting a long shadow over the gay community, the results have been devastating- keeping the virus strong among gay men even as it has begun to taper off in other groups.

Currently, most addiction treatment professionals who work in the gay community are putting the bulk of their efforts into spreading awareness about crystal meth – both its highly addictive nature and the negative consequences associated with it.

Michael's House is a residential drug rehabilitation center located in the beautiful desert of Palm Springs, California. The professionals at Michael's House are in tune with the needs of the gay and lesbian community and the root causes of their drug addiction. Contact Michael's House today at for more information.