METH BLAMED FOR RISE IN HIV

Woody's, the self-described "hottest" gay bar in the village, known
for its leathermen and buff contests, played host to an event with a
sober message on Wednesday, June 7: meth and sex don't mix.

The event was organized by the Toronto Gay/Bisexual Men's Crystal
Meth Task Force , a group formed by the AIDS Committee of Toronto
(ACT) in response to an increase in the number of gay and bi clients
seeking counselling and treatment for meth use at ACT and the Centre
for Addiction and Mental Health.

A new website, Himynameistina. com (online June 24), was announced at
the launch, which included testimonials by former meth users. The
feds are contributing $138,000 to the project over two years.

But the goal isn't to say no to drugs, says ACT harm reduction
coordinator Nick Boyce . It's to help people make informed choices.
"We're not looking to stigmatize anyone," says Boyce. "We're looking
out for each other."

Still, it's hard to miss the connection some made at the event: meth
use contributes to riskier sexual behaviour among gays.

There are no accurate stats on crystal meth use among gay men in
Toronto compared to the rest of the population. Based on comparisons
with other cities and some local surveys, it's estimated that between
6 and 22 per cent of gay men have used meth in the last year.

"People have been talking about their failure to maintain safe-sex
practice in their drug-induced high outside the bar and bathhouse,"
says Councillor Kyle Rae, the chair of the city's drug strategy
committee . "There are concerns that crystal meth is the latest craze
for a younger gay market."

Scare tactic? Is it homophobic to label meth a gay problem or to
point to speculation in the gay community that it may in part be why
HIV rates are on the rise?

To some former users, there's obviously a problem.

"I can go online and hook up with a trick and do meth in less than an
hour," says Shaun Proulx , a speaker at the Woody's event. "I know
because I've done it. It's easy."